THE FATHER’S LAMB
God’s Provision—Satan’s Demise
The importance of Passover observance signifying the death of Jesus cannot be overstressed. Its fulfillment was the catalyst that triggered the progression of God’s appointed times as described in Leviticus 23. It has set in motion the ultimate and final defeat of Satan and cannot be reversed; thus, providing the means of salvation to all those that believe in the Son of God.
Our Adversary
“Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Rev 12:12). Satan will do all in his deceptive power to mislead, disrupt, and confuse the world. He has actually succeeded in deceiving the whole world (Rev. 12:9); for example: the lie that is Easter in place of the Lord’s Passover. But why should we be surprised, didn’t he deceive one third of God’s angels (Revelations 12:3-4)?
This Battle Transcends Our Physical World
There are realms to be discovered outside the box of our little three-dimensional domain. All around us is a real wonder filled multidimensional world. Consider the one Jesus spoke of in John 3:1-11, or read Daniel chapter 10, a heavenly world of spiritual beings that moved like the wind, unfettered by space and time, a world full of mysteries and astounding events; a place where plans of gargantuan proportions are being laid and set in motion. Consider: “…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1Cor. 2:9).
John’s Vision
John was privileged to have a rare glimpse of such a world as described in Revelation 4. He tells us about thrones, flashes of lightning, peals of thunder and strange living beings, all very active. Then in chapter 5 John describes events that involve us all. The subject is the book of life, a life that was lost and then regained, warned of in Genesis 2:17; lost in Genesis 3:1-7 and regained at the slaying of the Passover Lamb in Jerusalem on Nisan 14.
Who Is Worthy?
“And I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne, a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, and sealed with seven seals. A mighty angel with a loud voice was shouting out this question: ‘Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and to unroll it?’ But no one in all heaven or earth or from among the dead was permitted to open and read it.”
The Lion of Judah
“Then I wept with bitter disappointment because no one anywhere was worthy; no one could tell us what it said. But one of the twenty-four Elders said to me, ‘Stop crying, for look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, (Christ) has conquered, and proved himself worthy to open the scroll and to break its seven seals.’”
God’s Lamb
“I looked and saw a Lamb standing there before the twenty-four Elders, in front of the throne and the Living Beings, and on the Lamb were wounds that once had caused his death (sin of mankind). He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven-fold Spirit of God, sent out into every part of the world. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting upon the throne. And as he took the scroll, the twenty-four Elders fell down before the Lamb, each with a harp and golden vials filled with incense-the prayers of God’s people!”
The Seals Broken
They were singing him a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it; for you were slain, and your blood has bought people from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation as gifts for God. And you have gathered them into a kingdom and made them priests of our God; they shall reign upon the earth” (Rev. 5:1-10 NLB).
SHADOWS OF THE PASSOVER IN HISTORY
Satan’s Nemesis
Adam and Eve Passed Over
God said if they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would surely die. Satan said they would not surely die. Mankind still believes in the immortality of the soul but God extended their, and mankind’s, physical lives by an innocent blood sacrifice. He had to kill the animals to provide them animal skins to cover their sins, thus performing the first Passover (Gen. 3:21 )— God provided!
Isaac Passed Over
Abraham’s faith and trust in God was severely tested by God when asked to sacrifice his own son. Read the whole gripping episode of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22, a chilling account of obedience, sacrifice and a prophecy. “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said, ‘My father’: and he said, ‘Here am I, my son’. And he said, ‘behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:’ so they went both of them together.”
As Abraham was raising his knife the angel stopped him and said “…now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” Then Abraham looked and saw a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son–God provided!
Israel Passed Over
From there we move forward in time to the ancient land of Egypt where we meet the descendants of Abraham as a slave people who also are to be passed over. At this time the procedures of the Passover are explained in meticulous detail, and because they obeyed, an entire nation was passed over. Read the whole exciting story in Exodus 12. Later, the Lord stipulated to Israel the 14th day of the first month (Lev. 23:4-5) as His Passover and as a reminder of their deliverance from bondage–God provided!
Your opportunity to be Passed Over
Moving forward about 2000 years, we see Abraham’s Prophecy fulfilled in its antitype. The Lion of the tribe of Judah was born of a virgin through the lineage of David and was conceived of the Holy Spirit. The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world has come, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1Pet.1:20). And all in the world who believe in The Lamb will be passed over because GOD’S Lamb was not passed over; but died for us. For it is He who has redeemed us from the second death described in Revelation 20:6 and 14–God provides!
The Way Opened
Then in Matthew 27:51 we read, “And, behold, the veil of the temple (secluding the holiest place in the temple, God’s throne) was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; (from God to man) and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.” The veil (Christ) that held back God’s wrath has paid our death penalty and has given us access to the very throne of God and eternal life through the death and resurrection of Christ.
Access Approved
We read in Hebrews 10:19-22, 19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus (Ex. 26:33 holy of holies), 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Baptism demonstrates to the world our stance to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. No longer is there a need for an earthly Priest, to mediate between man and God. We now have a direct link to the Father through the only mediator recognized and authorized by God, Jesus Christ (I Tim. 2:5).
Again we are encouraged to approach God boldly. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). The way has now been opened for us to go directly to God through Christ. For Christ has replaced the law of the Levitical Priesthood and become our High Priest, the only advocate needed between God and man. Study the book of Hebrews prayerfully and reap a wonderful understanding of man’s access to God the Father through Christ. Your prayers are heard!
A Very Personal God
Can you grasp this? You have a personal invitation to enter the most Holy of Holies, the very throne of God’s grace. A personal God means that you go directly to Him with the very Son of God as your advocate. That is why we must come to God individually, one by one. Not by birth, race or denomination, but as an individual. No religious organization, priest, minister, Pope or Satan himself can stand between you and God unless you allow them. For the Son of man has come to save that which was lost (Matt. 18:11), our personal Passover has come
“For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (I Cor. 5:7).
The Procedures Are Simple But Imperative!
“And when the hour was come (sundown), He (Jesus) sat down, and the twelve apostles with him” (Luke 22:14). Paul gives us the day and procedures. “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed (Nisan 14) took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, ‘Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me’. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, ‘This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come”’ (1 Cor. 11:23-26). His death is what paid our debt!
Christians also, as instructed, perform the foot washing as spoken in John 13:14-15, for we are told: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was” (James 1:22-24).
So, What Does The Passover Have To Do With You?
It’s about you being passed over from the second death (Perish).
It’s about you being given the opportunity for eternal life (death swelled up in victory).
It’s about how deep is the Father’s love for you.
It’s about what Christ did for you.
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!
Now it’s up to YOU.
Del Leger 2020©