CHRIST'S TYPIFIED IN THE PASSOVER (1)
Exodus 12

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Between the announcement of the tenth plague upon the Egyptians (Exodus 11) and the actual execution of that plague (12:29ff) was an interlude in which Christ instituted in Israel a new ceremony (12:1-28). If this ceremony, involving the sacrifice and blood of a lamb (12:3ff), was faithfully observed, Christ promised "I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt" (12:13).

1. It was to be observed on the "fourteenth day" of the "first month" (12:6a, 2).

2. The sacrificial lamb (or kid), "without blemish, a male of the first year," was to be selected by every household on the "tenth day of this month" (12:3-5).

3. Every household was to kill its lamb "at twilight" (literally "between the two evenings") on the "fourteenth day of the same month" (12:6).

4. The blood of this lamb was to be applied "on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it" (12:7).

5. The lamb was to be "roasted in fire" in its entirety - "nor shall you break one of its bones" (12:9, 46).
6. It was to be eaten "with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs" (12:8).
7. Any remains of the lamb were to be "burn[ed] with fire" (12:10).

8. It was to be eaten "in haste" and while gird in readiness for travel: "with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand" (12:11).

9. This ritual was to be observed "throughout your generations ... by an everlasting ordinance" (12:14, 24, 42, 47).
10. A servant or an alien was to observe this ritual only after "you have circumcised him" (12:44, 48).

11. At this time, and for seven days afterward, the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" was to observed (12:15-20; 13:6-8).

12. Every father was to teach his children the significance of this ritual (12:26f; 13:8, 14).

The name Passover was used of: 1. the entire festival celebration, "the Passover to Jehovah" (12:48); 2. the sacrifice which was eaten, "Jehovah's Passover" (12:11); 3. the sacrificed victim itself, "the Passover lamb" (12:21; note that lamb is italicized, added by the translators).

Passover was the first of Israel's annual feasts -- and each was typical of Christ (Leviticus 23; Colossians 2:16f).

1. Passover (Leviticus 23:4f) typified "Christ, our Passover, [who] was sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7).

2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8) typified the holy walk of a believer in Christ following his redemption (1 Corinthians 5:8).

3. The Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-14) typified "Christ the firstfruits ... of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23).

4. The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15-22), celebrated fifty days after Passover in commemoration of the harvest of the latter grains, typified the harvest of souls by Christ fifty days after His sacrifice as their Passover (Acts 2:1ff, 41).

5. The Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25), during which all Israel assembled at the sound of a trumpet, typified Christ's second coming to gather all His elect people at the sound of the trumpet (Matthew 24:31).

6. The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32), during which an expiation was obtained for all sins which remained despite the regular sacrifices, typified the work of Christ in the final "day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30).

7. The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-44), the final feast of the year, during which the people dwelt in booths, typified the final ingathering by Christ of all His people in glory, when "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them" (Revelation 21:3).