The Passover: A Portrait of Salvation in the New Testament
The story of Passover, as recounted in the book of Exodus, is one of the most profound narratives in the Bible. It tells of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, a momentous event that laid the foundation for the nation of Israel. However, beyond its historical significance, Passover serves as a powerful portrait of salvation in the New Testament, illustrating how Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross fulfills the promises and symbolism of the Old Testament.
The Blood of the Lamb: A Type of Christ
In the original Passover, God instructed the Israelites to take a lamb without blemish, slaughter it, and place its blood on the doorposts and lintel of their homes. This blood served as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" their homes during the final plague that struck Egypt, sparing the firstborn in every household that was covered by the blood.
This act of deliverance is a type—a symbolic foreshadowing—of Christ, who is referred to as the "Lamb of God" in the New Testament (John 1:29). Just as the Passover lamb’s blood saved the Israelites from physical death, the blood of Jesus, the perfect and sinless Lamb, delivers believers from spiritual death.
The apostle Paul draws this parallel in 1 Corinthians 5:7, where he writes, "For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." This connection between the Passover lamb and Christ emphasizes that the events of the Old Testament were not merely historical occurrences but were divinely orchestrated to point forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus.
Through His sacrificial death, Christ takes upon Himself the sins of the world, offering redemption and eternal life to all who believe.
The Shadow of Things to Come
The Old Testament is filled with types and shadows—symbols that point to greater realities fulfilled in the New Testament. The Passover is one of the most vivid examples of this concept. While the actual event of the Exodus was a significant deliverance for the Israelites, it was also a shadow of the greater deliverance that Christ would bring to humanity.
Hebrews 10:1 speaks of the Law as "a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things." The Passover, as part of the Mosaic Law, was a shadow of the redemption Christ would accomplish on the cross. The annual celebration of Passover by the Israelites was a reminder of their deliverance from Egypt, but it also pointed forward to the ultimate deliverance from sin that Christ would provide.
The practice of sacrificing animals under the Old Covenant was never meant to be a permanent solution to sin. Rather, it pointed forward to the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus. As Hebrews 9:12 states, "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Christ’s sacrifice was the fulfillment of what the Passover lamb symbolized, making animal sacrifices obsolete.
The First Passover: A Symbol of Faith and Obedience
The first Passover required the Israelites to act in faith and obedience. They had to follow God’s instructions precisely—choosing a lamb, slaughtering it, and applying its blood to their doorposts. This act of obedience was a demonstration of their trust in God’s promise of deliverance.
In the New Testament, salvation through Christ also requires faith and obedience. Just as the Israelites had to apply the blood of the lamb to their homes, believers must apply the blood of Christ to their lives by accepting His sacrifice and following Him. This involves repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus, and receiving the Holy Spirit, as outlined in Acts 2:38. These steps are the means by which believers enter into the New Covenant, experiencing the spiritual deliverance that the Passover foreshadowed.
The Significance of Passover for Christians Today
For Christians, the Passover is more than a historical event; it is a vivid portrayal of the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. While the Jewish Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt, Christians celebrate this event with a focus on its fulfillment in Christ’s death and resurrection.
The Last Supper, which Jesus shared with His disciples on the night before His crucifixion, was a Passover meal. During this meal, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper (Communion), linking His sacrifice to the Passover lamb. By partaking in Communion, Christians remember Christ’s body broken and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. This act of remembrance is a central way in which believers connect with the profound truth that Christ is our Passover lamb.
Conclusion: The Power of the Lamb
The Passover story is not just about Israel’s deliverance from Egypt; it is a powerful illustration of our salvation through Christ. When the plague came to the doors of those covered by the blood of the lamb, death passed over them. Similarly, when we apply the blood of Christ to our lives through faith and obedience, spiritual death passes over us, and we are granted eternal life.
As believers, we are called to live in the freedom that Christ’s sacrifice provides, free from the penalty, power, and practice of sin. The story of Passover reminds us of the incredible love and grace of God, who provided a way for us to be saved through the sacrifice of His Son. This is the essence of the Gospel—the good news of salvation that was foreshadowed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New.