CHRIST'S TYPIFIED IN THE PASSOVER (3)
Exodus 12

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III. The Passover sacrifice was to be observed by none but "the congregation of Israel" (v.3). No command to observe Passover was given to the Egyptians. They refused to believe in the one true and living God. They therefore were unworthy of His ceremonies. And they would have obstinately refused to observe them.

Christ the Passover is to be observed only by the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:14), the church. No command to "keep the feast" (1 Corinthians 5:7f) is given to reprobates. They refuse to believe in Christ. They therefore are unworthy of His ordinances, such as Christian Baptism and the Lord's Supper. And when they pretend to observe them, they profane them by associating Christian Baptism with baptismal regeneration, and the Lord's Supper with a Romanist mass. They have likewise profaned Christ the Passover.

IV. The Passover sacrifice was to be a lamb (or kid) (v.3). Why a lamb?

1. A lamb is a "clean" animal (Leviticus 11:1-8), "having cloven hooves and chewing the cud." 2. A lamb is a relatively innocent and harmless creature, not given to inflicting injury upon others. 3. The lamb is a gentle, meek, and patient creature, bearing wrongs without seeking revenge.

Christ the Passover is the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29, 36). All that we have just observed regarding the lamb is typical of Him. 1. Christ is "clean" -- "holy, ... undefiled, separate from sinners" (Hebrews 9:26). Figuratively speaking, He fits the description of "having cloven hooves" because He had a holy walk. And He fits the description of "chewing the cud" because He ruminated upon the holy things of God. 2. Christ is "harmless," (Hebrews 9:26), not given to inflicting injury upon others (until the end-time [Revelation 6:16]). 3. Christ is "gentle and lowly," bearing wrongs without seeking revenge (1 Peter 2:23; Isaiah 53:7 / Acts 8:32).

V. The Passover sacrifice was to be "a lamb for a household" (vv.3f). The provision was to be exact, "according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need," neither under- nor over-sufficient. Therefore, the household which was too small for one lamb was to join with another. And no provision was made for the households of the Egyptians, who through their unbelief would have refused to observe it anyway.

Christ the Passover is "a Lamb for a household." The provision of His sacrifice was confined to the "household of God" (Ephesians 2:19) comprised of His elect children, known also as "the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10), His church. It is "according to their number, according to their need." It was therefore not under-sufficient, thereby being failing to atone even one of them. Neither was it over-sufficient, providing atonement for any who would not need it. (Sufficiency = efficiency.) The atoning sacrifice of Christ the Passover therefore resulted in a limited atonement -- for "many" but not for all (Isaiah 53:11, 12; Matthew 26:28). And it resulted in a particular redemption, redeeming only those who are identified as God and Christ's people (Isaiah 53:8; Matthew 1:21), sheep (John 10:11), and church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25f). Christ was not sacrificed for those who will never believe in Him (John 10:11, 26).

VI. The Passover lamb was to be "without blemish" (v.5). The Passover lamb was to be physically perfect: "there shall be no defect in it. Those that are blind or broken or maimed, or have an ulcer or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD .... You shall not offer to the LORD what is bruised or crushed, or torn or cut .... Nor from a foreigner's hand shall you offer any of these as the bread of God, because their corruption is in them" (Leviticus 22:18-25). God is perfect, and therefore requires that the sacrifices to Him be perfect.

Christ the Passover Lamb is "a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19). Christ was morally perfect. He like us was "born under the law" (Galatians 4:4). But unlike us, He perfectly kept it (Matthew 5:17). He therefore has met with the approbation of His Father (Matthew 3:17; 17:5).