August 14, 2023

After studying Exodus 12, I realized that the symbolism of the Passover is much more detailed than I thought. It makes me quite sad for the Jewish because the story of Jesus is written throughout this chapter. How can they observe the Passover without comparing it to the life and death of Jesus? I have always wondered why Christ-followers were never taught to celebrate Passover. Those that were not Israelites by birth yet lived among them were also required to follow the ordinances. Here are some examples:

1. Pick a perfect lamb on the 10th of the month, then sacrifice it on the 14th day. Jesus was the perfect sacrificial lamb.
2. Put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel using hyssops—Jesus's blood protects us from the destroying angel.
3. Roast it with all its insides and eat it with bitter herbs, not breaking any bones. When we accept Jesus, we are eating his body. None of Jesus's bones were broken, and bitter herbs were eaten to recognize the bitterness of our sin.
4. Eat it with unleavened bread - clean all the leaven out of the house (sin.)
5. Leave none of the meat until morning. Burn the leftovers in the fire. Jesus took our sins and burned them in the fire. 
6. The men must be circumcised to take part. In the New Testament, circumcision means you are clean and sin-free.

These ordinances seem like a lot, but if you are brought up in this culture and do it ritually every year, it becomes second nature. As Christ-followers, we are adopted into the family of God; I wish Christians were taught this in the church because the symbolism points to Jesus, and I believe we should observe the Passover just as the Jewish believers do. 

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Exodus 12:14