Understanding the Passover: How It Points to Christ

The Passover lamb holds deep meaning in both Jewish and Christian traditions. For the Jewish people, it symbolizes God's protection and their freedom from slavery in Egypt. For Christians, the Passover lamb points to Jesus Christ, who is seen as the final Passover lamb—the ultimate sacrifice for the salvation of all the world. By studying the original Passover story, we can gain a deeper understanding of how Jesus fulfilled the role of the final Passover lamb.

The First Passover

The first Passover is a significant event in Jewish history, marking a pivotal moment during the Israelites' time of slavery in Egypt. In Exodus 7-12, God sent ten plagues to persuade Pharaoh to release the Israelites. The tenth and most devastating plague was the death of every firstborn in Egypt.

God provided a way for the Israelites to be spared from the final plague in Exodus 12. God instructed them through Moses to sacrifice a spotless lamb and mark the doorposts of their homes with its blood. God said, "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt" (Exodus 12:13). This act of faith and obedience demonstrated the Israelites' trust in God and saved them from suffering the same fate as the Egyptians.

The Symbolism of the Passover Lamb

The Passover lamb’s characteristics hold rich symbolic meaning. In Exodus 12:5, God told Moses that the lambs had to be a year-old males without blemish, which represents purity and flawlessness. This detail emphasized the need for a perfect sacrifice, one untainted and worthy to cover the people’s sins.

The act of sacrificing the lamb is central to the idea of substitutionary atonement. By shedding the lamb’s blood, the Israelites were shielded from the death of their firstborn sons. The lamb took their place, highlighting the theme of a life given to save others. This concept is echoed throughout both Old and New Testaments as a profound representation of God’s provision for reconciliation.

Jesus' Last Supper

Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples took place during the Jewish Passover and is in each of the 4 Gospels: Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-30; and John 13:1-30. During this Passover Seder meal, Jesus used two familiar parts of Passover—unleavened bread and wine—to explain something new. He said the bread represented His body given for all and the wine stood for His blood, which would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 22:19-20).

In doing this, Jesus revealed that He was the sacrificial lamb. His death would bring freedom—not only from the bondage they felt to the Romans, but from sin and death. He took an old tradition and gave it new meaning. Christians remember the Last Supper through taking Communion.

Jesus Christ: The Lamb of God

Jesus’ life and death fulfill the prophetic imagery of the Passover lamb in remarkable ways. John the Baptist said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). In the week leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus was scrutinized by religious leaders and high priests—just as the Passover lamb was examined for defects—through challenges to His authority, traps involving political and theological questions, and tests of His knowledge of the law (Matthew 21-22; Mark 11-12; Luke 20). However, the scrutiny only highlighted Jesus' purity and perfection, making Him the only worthy sacrifice for humanity’s sins. His blood saves people not from physical death, but from eternal death and separation from God.

The events during Jesus’ crucifixion also mirror the preparation of the Passover lamb. From His arrest to His death during the Passover festival, Jesus endured trials and sufferings that culminated in His crucifixion at the exact time the Passover lambs were being sacrificed. This timing underscores the fulfillment of the biblical requirements for the Passover lamb, reinforcing Jesus’ role as the Lamb of God. As foretold in Isaiah 53:7, Jesus "was like a lamb led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."

John’s Gospel confirms that none of Jesus’ bones were broken when He was crucified, which is a fulfillment of Psalm 34:20: "he protects all His bones, not one of them will be broken." This detail, along with other parallels, signifies that Jesus meets all the requirements set forth for the Passover lamb, providing salvation through His sacrifice. Jesus died as the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover.

The Lamb of God and Your Calling

The Passover is more than just a part of Jewish history. It points directly to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. From the first Passover in Egypt to the death and the resurrection of Jesus, we see God’s plan to rescue and redeem His people. Jesus, through His sacrifice, embodied the true significance of the sacrificial lamb by shedding His innocent blood for all humanity. By understanding the meaning of the Passover and how it points to Jesus, Christians gain a deeper appreciation of their faith.

 Are you called to help others understand the richness of Scripture and the power of God's promises? Indiana Wesleyan University offers Christ-centered degree programs that prepare students for ministry, biblical studies, and leadership. Explore our School of Theology and Ministry to discover how you can grow in knowledge, deepen your faith, and serve with purpose.

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Sources

New International Version. BibleGateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/

Schreiner, T. (n.d.) Substitutionary Atonement. The Gospel Coalition. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/substitutionary-atonement/