When God heard the cry of the Israelites in slavery in Egypt he sent Moses to Pharaoh to release them. Pharaoh refused after several requests so God through Moses instructed the Israelites that every household should slaughter an unblemished sheep for a feast, and use its blood to mark the door post of their dwelling. God then sent his angel to destroy the first-born sons of all who did not have the blood mark on their doors as he had instructed in the night but the angel passed over dwellings which had the blood mark without destroying them for they were protected by the blood of the lamb.
For the great tribulation, mourning, weeping and wailing that ensued thereafter in the morning Pharaoh released the Israelites as God requested. The Lamb is what is referred to as the paschal lamb and the annual commemoration of that day when the angel did not destroy those covered by the blood of the paschal lamb is called the Passover Feast. We may refresh our minds from Exodus 12: 5-13.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5: 7 for Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. As the paschal lamb, he paid the price for our redemption when Jesus shed his blood for us on the cross which signifies the post on which the blood of Passover in Egypt was marked. Christ Jesus was and still is without blemish. 2 Corinthians 5: 21 says for our sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. We pray to the Lord to expose to our knowledge and understanding of his holy word why Christ Jesus is our paschal lamb.
Why is Jesus our paschal lamb?
1. Christ Jesus paid the price for our redemption with his blood because of his unfailing love for us. 1 John 4: 19 says we love because he (Jesus) first loved us. Also, Romans 5: 8 says but God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Have we reciprocate his love for us?
2. God did not want any of us to perish from foolish and avoidable death. John 3: 16 says for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Jesus said in John 6: 40 for this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. Where will be our fate in eternity? Jesus Christ is coming soon and we are getting too late for redemption.
3. We needed to be competent in worship under a new and everlasting covenant and the blood of Christ Jesus made it possible. Jesus said in Luke 22: 20 (quoted in 1 Corinthians 11: 25) this cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 2 Corinthians 3: 5-6 say not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from you; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life. We are made competent by grace so let no man boast.
4. The old covenant was desolate so God replaced same with a better one through Christ Jesus. Hebrews 8: 13 says in speaking of a new covenant he (God) treats the first as obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Without a viable replacement there would have been no relationship between us and God the Father. We would have been at the mercy of the destroyer, Satan and his evil agents. Are we still under the old desolate covenant of works or under the new everlasting covenant of grace through Christ Jesus?
5. By the nature of our sins, it was necessary that we have a mediator in heaven before God the Father to mediate for our restoration back to God and the blood of Jesus Christ was overly competent. Hebrews 9: 15 says therefore he (Christ Jesus) is the mediator of the new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. Who is our mediator before God? Gods made of hands cannot mediate save Christ Jesus the only holy one of God.
6. Upon falling from God’s grace, mankind became a speaker of grace to communicate with God on our behalf under the new covenant and only Jesus had that unique and singular quality to sooth God’s anger and disappointment. Hebrews 12: 24 says and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel. God said in Matthew 17: 5; Mark 9: 7; Luke 9: 35 this is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. Every serious gathering has a speaker and Christ Jesus is the most pleasing speaker for us in heaven.
7. Since Adam and Eve, our sins have formed a barrier between us and God therefore there it was needful for an advocate before the courts and judgment seat of God in heaven against the devil who is the accuser before the God the Father. So, 1 John 2: 1-2 say my little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation of our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. We must allow Christ Jesus who knows all the laws of creation to be our advocate.
8. We needed to pacify God once for all time throughout the ages and only Jesus qualified before God the Father. Hebrews 7:27 says he (Jesus) has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of his people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Hebrews 9: 12 also says he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. Just as the paschal lamb secured the release of Israelites once and for all likewise has the blood of Christ Jesus for free.
9. Just as the blood of the lamb in Egypt saved the Israelites from death, so is the saving blood of Jesus Christ ordained from heaven. Romans 5: 9 says since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Colossians 1: 20 says and through him (Jesus Christ) to be reconciled to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Revelation 1: 5 says to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. Are we saved by the blood of Christ Jesus? We do not want to hear this but it is the only way.
10. For our eternal security, the exalted name of Christ Jesus is above all other names just as the blood of the paschal lamb in Egypt secured the lives of God’s people. Colossians 3: 3 says for you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Philippians 2:9-11 say therefore God has exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. There is no other name to seek shelter but in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If Christ Jesus cannot be our paschal lamb, who else and under what condition can we have another as God’s first choice? We pray that the blood of Jesus will perform these works of the paschal lamb in our lives and in the body of Christ with a revival wherever we are in his name and to his glory and honour for ever and ever when we call on his name, Amen!!
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we acknowledge you as our paschal lamb based on your divine works for us before our father in heaven. We thank you most sincerely and do apologize for our ingratitude. Please come into our hearts and stay with us as our Lord and Saviour. Wash our sins in your precious blood and save our souls today in your mercy, grace and love. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!
