The Lamb of God: Discovering Christ in the Passover
Every spring, Jewish families around the world gather to celebrate one of the most significant feasts on their calendar—Passover. Rooted in God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Passover serves as a vivid reminder of God’s power, faithfulness, and mercy. Additionally, for followers of Jesus, Passover also acts as a profound foreshadowing of the ultimate redemption found in Christ.
Passover is not merely a historical event—it’s a sacred preview. A shadow cast by the cross long before it existed. When we examine it closely, we begin to recognize that every detail, every symbol, and every instruction in the original Passover points directly to Jesus, the true and better Passover Lamb.
The First Passover: Covered by the Blood
To understand the significance of Passover, we refer to Exodus 12. God’s people endured 400 years of slavery. God raised up Moses to deliver them, and with each of Pharaoh’s refusals came a plague. The tenth and final plague was the most devastating—the death of every firstborn in Egypt.
But God provided a means of escape. He instructed the Israelites to take a lamb—spotless and without defect—and sacrifice it. They were to take its blood and spread it on the doorposts and lintel of their homes. Then, they were to eat the lamb swiftly, dressed and prepared to leave. That night, as the Lord passed through Egypt, He spared every home marked by the blood.
Exodus 12:13 states, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Notice that it wasn’t about the worthiness of the people inside the house. It wasn’t about their past, their righteousness, or even their understanding. It was simply about the blood. The blood of the lamb made all the difference.
The Lamb Who Was to Come
For generations, God’s people commemorated this deliverance through an annual Passover meal. Yet, even in that remembrance, something greater was being whispered through the centuries. Something deeper. Someone greater.
Enter Jesus.
When John the Baptist saw Jesus walking toward him, he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). This was not a poetic metaphor. John proclaimed that the long-awaited Lamb—the one foreshadowed in Egypt, the one promised in prophecy, the one represented in the sacrificial system—had arrived.
Jesus did not come merely to teach, heal, or inspire. He came to die. He came to be the Lamb.
The Last Supper: A New Covenant in His Blood
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus sat with His disciples to share the Passover meal. This was not an ordinary dinner—it was rich with meaning, memory, and expectation. However, Jesus did something radical: He redefined the symbols.
Taking the bread, He said, “This is My body, given for you.” Taking the cup, He said, “This is the new covenant in My blood, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 22:19-20, Matthew 26:28).
In that moment, Jesus was connecting the dots. He was revealing that the Passover story ultimately pointed to Him. Just as the blood of a lamb spared the Israelites from death, His blood would save humanity from sin and eternal separation from God. He became our substitute, our covering, our deliverance.
Freedom from a Greater Bondage
The first Passover freed the Israelites from Pharaoh’s grip and led them toward the Promised Land. Yet, Jesus offers a far greater deliverance—from the power of sin and death. Through His sacrifice, we are not merely passed over; we are welcomed in. We’re adopted as sons and daughters. We’re made new.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” It is done. The work is complete. The blood has been shed. And those who believe in Him are covered—not by religious performance, not by good deeds, but by grace.
Living in Light of the Lamb
What does Passover mean for us today as followers of Christ?
It signifies our remembrance- not only of what God did in Egypt but also of what He accomplished on the cross. It prompts reflection as we gaze upon the Lamb who bore our sin, stood in our place, and gave His life so that we might have life. It inspires rejoicing; we are no longer slaves, no longer in bondage. We are free.
Every time we take communion, we celebrate our own Passover. We acknowledge that the blood of the Lamb has been applied to our hearts. We proclaim that we have been set free—not just for heaven, but for holy living right now.
Just as the Israelites left Egypt that night to begin their journey toward a new land, we too are on a journey—a pilgrimage of faith, walking with Jesus as we await the fullness of His kingdom.
A Time to Examine and Celebrate
This season of Passover is a powerful invitation. It’s a time to:
Examine your heart. Have you trusted in the blood of the Lamb? Or are you still trying to earn your way into freedom?
Remember your rescue. Reflect on what Jesus has saved you from—and what He’s calling you into.
Rejoice in your Redeemer. Give thanks. Worship. Live in light of the cross and resurrection.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are our Passover Lamb. You were without sin, yet You bore our sin. You shed Your blood so we could live. Thank You for rescuing us—not just from judgment, but also from the power of sin and death. Thank You for covering us in grace and calling us Your own. Help us to live with gratitude, to walk in freedom, and to boldly declare the good news: the Lamb has overcome. In Your name, Amen.