THE PASCHAL LAMB

The Paschal Lamb (or Passover Lamb) is the lamb specified by the Lord to Moses and Aaron in Exodus 12 as the sacrificial lamb “it must be without blemish” (12:5) to roast and eat. “Some of the blood of the Passover Lamb was to be put on the sides and top of the door-posts of every house. (Exodus 12:7) “But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (12:13)

The Passover is still celebrated by the Jews. To those who believe in the New Covenant we see a transition. John, an apostle, wrote when seeing Jesus appear at the Jordan River: “This is the Lamb of God…” (1:29), and later: “There is the Lamb of God …(1:36). Paul, another apostle, wrote: “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)

Just before Jesus was crucified he asked his disciples to prepare for the Passover Feast. “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.” And, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until it’s meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:1; 15-16) Part of the Passover Meal was bread and wine. Jesus did not institute something new to the disciples… he revealed something to them and us. “As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.” (Matthew 26:26-28) The first was the shadow and the second is the substance.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. We are to eat the body bread and drink the blood wine to remember our sin and death have been Passed Over.

“Do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus