Christ and the Passover

On the night he was betrayed, Christ celebrated the passover with his disciples, telling them to do it in remembrance of Him... the bread they ate represented his body, the wine his blood...


I've thought about the parallels between Christ and the passover at times, and it's always stunning to me. I thought I'd share some of them in case they're interesting to anyone else, as well. The passover, of course, was a remembrance of when God set Israel free from bondage in Egypt, with the final plague. So here are just a few of the parallels that come to mind:





1) Those whose firstborn sons were not struck by the Angel of the Lord were those who had sacrificed a lamb and painted their doorposts with its blood. The parallel to Christ is obvious: those who are saved from God's wrath are those who have the blood of the Lamb covering them.


2) The Israelites who painted the lamb's blood on their doorposts did so in faith, believing that the Angel of the Lord would "pass over" if they did so. The Egyptians who did not do this did so from a lack of faith or knowledge, or both. Just as those who perish apart from Christ do so either because they do not know about Him, or they do not have faith and then act according to that faith. (Note also that the Israelite's faith resulted in action: doing the passover ceremony, which demonstrated their faith.)


3) The Israelites were in bondage, slaves in Egypt. Just as we are in bondage, slaves to sin, until Christ sets us free. This freedom occurs when we by faith lay hold of Christ, just as the Israelites were finally delivered from their bondage after the final plague. All previous 9 plagues, as severe as they were, were insufficient to set them free. Only by Christ's blood, and nothing else, can we too experience freedom.


4) The Lord was with Israel, providing protection and guidance (cloud by day, fire by night, manna, etc.) their whole journey to the promised land. Just as we are given the Holy Sprit, and Jesus as intercessor, as we pilgrimage through this life to the promised new heaven and new earth.


It really is an amazing faith we have, to see all the prophecies and types of Christ in the O.T. long before He came and then fulfilled them all. (Abraham being told to sacrifice his only son, for instance... or Isaiah 42.) It's amazing how, for those of us who believe, it's so obvious that these things are amazing confirmation of the truth of scripture, while for those who do not, it's foolishness. Which only confirms scriptures like Isaiah 6:9-10, Mt. 13:14-15, etc.