The Lamb Is Approved

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player.)

This is the sixth message in a series of sermons given during Lent in which details of the Passover in the Old Testament are compared to the events surrounding the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our salvation. This message speaks about the Passover lamb that was brought into the household and watched for 4 days prior to slaughter in order to know it was without disease or defect. Jesus, the Lamb of God, entered Jerusalem 4 days before Passover to be "tested and examined" and prove He was worthy to die.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

On the 10^th day of Nisan (which is the first month of the Hebrew calendar), each Jewish family selected a one-year-old lamb from the flock and brought it into the household so they could watch it until the 14^th day – the day of Passover. The purpose for bringing the lamb into the household on the 10^th day was so they could keep a close watch on it and make sure it had no defects or disease. As the lamb interacts with the children and family members the father keeps an eye out for any signs of blemish or defects. It is the father’s responsibility to acknowledge that the lamb is worthy to be slain. The lamb will be slaughtered on the evening of the 14^th as a substitute for every firstborn son in every family. (Adapted from Messiah in the Passover)

Hundreds of years later, on the 10^th day of Nisan, the miracle-working prophet from Nazareth rode down the Mt. of Olives on the back of a donkey and entered the city of Jerusalem. The One whom John the Baptist identified as the “Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world,” has entered the city to be tested, examined, and watched.

It is interesting to note that the Hosanna songs the people were singing as Jesus rode toward Jerusalem are taken from the “Hallel Psalms” that we told you about last Sunday. These are the Psalms (Ps. 113-118) and are sung during the Passover celebration. In just a few days, Jesus would sing that same Psalm with His disciples before going out to the Mount of Olives where He was betrayed.

Four days after His arrival in Jerusalem it will be Passover. Is this Lamb, worthy? Will he pass the tests? The religious leaders and elders are anxious to show to the public that this man cannot be the Messiah. They aim to show that He is not worthy of their devotion because they will show by their confrontations that He can’t pass the test.

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – Throughout this section Jesus’ opponents are variously described as chief priests and scribes… chief priests and elders of the people… chief priests and Pharisees… Pharisees and Herodians… Sadducees… [and] Pharisees... The various power groups in Judaism, who in other respects could not be expected to see eye to eye, are thus all in their different ways drawn into active opposition to Jesus. 

For our message today I want to consider the testing that Jesus went through between Palm Sunday and Passover night as He is proven to be worthy as the sacrifice for all people.

I.    The First Test: What is your authority?

After riding into Jerusalem on Sunday, it is believed that Jesus went to the temple on Monday (day 11) and drove out the money changers and those who bought and sold in the temple. What a display of zeal and authority! It surely must have set the religious rulers on fire with contempt. The following day (Tuesday - day 12), the chief priests and elders came to Him attempting to trick Him into saying something that will reveal He is not worthy to be honored and followed.

Matthew 21:23-27 ^(NKJV) Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?" ²⁴But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: ²⁵The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ²⁶But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet." ²⁷So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

We are told that these leaders who confront Jesus are the people who are responsible for civil and religious order in the Jewish community. They want to prove that Jesus is not worthy of the Messianic implications in the praise of the people at His triumphal entry as well as His cleansing of the temple. 

Jesus’ response is to ask them a question, which some writers indicate is an approved Rabbinic form of debate. In asking His question, Jesus clearly ties His ministry, message and authority in with the ministry and message of John the Baptist, who had already declared Him to be the Lamb of God. As much as the leaders hated Jesus, they had to walk away defeated because they knew what the common feeling was among the people toward John the Baptist.

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – …by declining to pronounce an ‘official’ verdict on John, whose ministry was so clearly in line with that of Jesus, they had forfeited the right to challenge publicly the authority of Jesus.

The Lamb is victor. He has passed the test. There is no flaw or blemish in Him.

II.  The Second Test: Do you honor civil authority?

In the next test, which takes place on the same day (Tuesday). It comes from a group of Pharisees and Herodians. Two sects within the Jewish community who normally are at odds with each other.

The Pharisees claim to be faithful to the Scriptures and despise any compromises with the pagan Roman authorities. The Herodians are supportive of the Roman civil rule. Normally they do not join together in any kind of common effort, but today they do so in order to trap Jesus into saying something that will either inflame the Roman authorities or the loyal Jews.

Matthew 22:15-22 ^(NKJV) Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. ¹⁶And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. ¹⁷Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" ¹⁸But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. ²⁰And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" ²¹They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." ²²When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

(Lenski New Testament Commentary) – Luke 20:20 calls these emissaries of the Pharisees "spies who feigned themselves to be righteous," and adds that their plot was to deliver Jesus into the hands of the governor. These disciples were men whom Jesus had not met before, who thus could pose as honest inquirers. The Pharisees arranged matters so that their disciples were accompanied by the Herodians. The latter were to act as witnesses, and their word would be more effective with the Roman governor than that of mere disciples of the Pharisees. 

These people not only believe that they have the perfect question to capture the Teacher in a dilemma and force Him to indict Himself, but they begin with flattery. 

Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men…

We are told that the specific tax they are referring to here is paid directly to Rome, and the Jews viewed it as representing their subjection to a foreign power. (Tyndale Commentary)

Is it lawful? – No question that it was the Roman law. They’re asking if it is permissible for God’s people to pay this tax which could be viewed as allegiance to a foreign power. Will this Man, the One who has made some unbelievable claims to be the Son of God, be able to pass this test? Will the Lamb prove to be above reproach?

Yes, He not only shows that they cannot trap Him in a situation that indicts Him, but He traps them in their own dilemma they cannot escape. Rather than Jesus going away with head hanging because of His answer, His accusers walk away defeated. Instead of trapping the Lord in a political/moral dilemma, they walk away realizing that Jesus has just exposed their hypocrisy. They who have the image of God stamped in their very existence do not rightfully “render to God the things that are God’s.”

III. The Third Test: Do you understand Scripture?

Continuing on into the day, Jesus is confronted by another group that is intent on showing that He is not worthy of the devotion and honor that people have been giving. These people are called “Sadducees.” The specific characteristic that is mentioned about them in Scripture is this: they do not believe in the resurrection. They appear to come with the intent of proving that Jesus does not know the Scriptures as well as they do. (Messiah in the Passover)

Matthew 22:23-33 ^(NKJV) The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, ²⁴saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁵Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. ²⁶Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. ²⁷Last of all the woman died also. ²⁸Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her." ²⁹Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. ³⁰For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. ³¹But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, ³²'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." ³³And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

Conclusion:

All three of these tests that we have discussed probably took place on the same day – Tuesday of Passion Week. But these are not the only times Jesus was “being tested.” Throughout the week there were other questions asked (What is the greatest commandment?) and additional lessons and discourses that Jesus taught.

In all of the questioning and in all of the speaking, Jesus is proven over and over to be without defect, flaw or sin. When the week winds down at the trial of Jesus, it’s as though the four days of “testing” are summed up in the words of Pilate when he announces to the crowd, “I find no fault in Him.”

For the very first Passover and every subsequent observance of Passover, the head of the household would have to approve the lamb after watching it for 4 days. He would have to verify that the lamb is truly without defect and worthy to be slain for Passover. On the night of Passover, right after Jesus celebrated the event with His disciples, the Father presented Him as the Passover Lamb who was worthy to die, not just for firstborn sons, but in the place of every human being. Jesus has been examined, watched and tested. He has been proven worthy to be the sacrifice for all mankind.

(Biblewise.com, “Chronology of Passion Week”) In Moses' Passover in Egypt, death was merely avoided. In the Passover Jesus celebrated, death wasn't avoided: it was confronted and conquered for all mankind.

All through the service today the worthiness of our Redeemer has been celebrated. The songs we’ve sung, the Scripture that was read, the special music, and the message of the sermon have all pointed to the fact that Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world,” is worthy to be slain. When we look into the book of Revelation, we read the Lamb that was slain is worthy of all praise. 

Revelation 5:11-13 ^(NKJV) Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹²saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" ¹³And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" 

Let us close the service today by singing the chorus: Worthy Is the Lamb

Repent, Obey, & Celebrate

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player.)

This is the fifth message in a series of sermons given during Lent in which details of the Passover in the Old Testament are compared to the events surrounding the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our salvation. This sermon discusses the topic of Passover as recorded in the OT books of history and poetry. It emphasizes the fact that Passover observance mentioned in 2 Chronicles occur when righteous kings repent of their forefathers' sins and they obey the Lord by keeping the Passover. The Psalms speak of Passover in celebration of God's miraculous deliverance.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

I have been doing a series of messages the past 4 Sundays on the subject of the Passover. I mentioned that I have been reading a book titled, Messiah in the Passover, and I have been learning a good bit about how the biblical material concerning the Passover relates to the sacrifice of Jesus. Not only have I learned more clearly how Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, but I’ve also learned more information regarding the ways that Christian Communion relates to the event of Passover and its historic celebration by the Jewish people.

We started this series by showing how God began preparing His people for Passover hundreds of years before it actually happened, and how that corresponds to the prophecies of the Messiah’s first coming. It also corresponds with the prophecies regarding the Messiah’s second coming that God has already given us.

Next, we spoke about the fact that the original Passover in Egypt was always referred to as a redemption from bondage and slavery in Egypt. This parallels the message of the NT in teaching us that we all have been redeemed from the bondage of sin through the blood of Jesus.

The third message of the series was given during one of our regular Communion services and focused on the 4 different cups of wine that were traditionally passed during the observance of Passover by the Jews. It was interesting to note that Jesus provided a brand new meaning for the third cup of the meal. This cup was normally called, “the cup of redemption” and Jesus changed its meaning away from the past by saying, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Last Sunday the message addressed the topic of Atonement, which is another theme that is connected with Passover. The connection between Passover and atonement is based on the fact that God chose Passover as the day His Son gave His life and shed His blood to make atonement for all of our sins.

In the first three sermons of the series, we looked at the Passover as it was presented in the “books of Moses,” which are known as the LAW. Today, we are going focus on the Passover as presented in the “history” and “poetry” sections of the OT, which the Jews simply refer to as “The Writings.” 

In the LAW, the Passover is mentioned many, many times; not only in predicting and recording the actual event, but also in the describing the laws God gave regarding the way it was to be celebrated year after year. However, in the WRITINGS, we only have a few places that the Passover is mentioned. Yet, there is an important message as we study it.

There are four different places when Passover is mentioned including the book of Psalms. The first mention is found in 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:1 and it speaks about the reinstatement of the Passover observance during the reign of King Hezekiah following the evil reign of his father, King Ahaz. The next mention is recorded in 2 Chronicles 35:1-19, which records the reforms that were instituted by King Josiah following the evil reign of his father, King Amon and grandfather, King Manasseh. The third record of Passover is found in Ezra 6:19-21, which is all about the Israelites returning to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon/Persia. As soon as the temple is rebuilt, they begin to once again celebrate the Passover in accordance with God’s law. The final example of Passover expressed in the “Writings” is found in the Psalms. There are various places in the Psalms where the Psalmist describes the Passover and the Exodus as examples of God’s faithfulness to Israel, as well as God’s mighty power over their enemies.

I want to speak to you about Repentance, Obedience and Celebration.

I.    Repentance

When people abandon their worship of God and their trust in God, they naturally abandon their obedience to God’s commands. The people of Israel had forsaken the Lord and had resorted to worshiping the gods of the pagans. This included the practice of many despicable things that God clearly condemned. Because of their disobedience, God had brought judgment upon them from enemy nations.

One of the wicked kings that led Israel further from the Lord was King Amon. But when he died his son Hezekiah ascended to the throne. Hezekiah’s heart was turned toward the Lord and we read about it in 2 Chron. 29:1-11. Even though the word “repentance” is not used in these chapters (29 & 30), yet the point is still emphasized by the word “return.”

When we read about Passover in chapter 30, it is presented in the context of people “returning to the Lord.” 

2 Chronicles 30:9 ^(NKJV) For if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him." 

In other words, they repented of the way they had been going and purposed to return to the ways of the Lord. The same could be said about Josiah in chapter 35.

In similar fashion, his father, King Amon, as well as his grandfather, had promoted the worship of idols and pagan gods. But Josiah determines to return to the Lord when he becomes king.

Read 2 Chron. 34:1-7.

Josiah demonstrated repentance by clearing out all the trappings of idolatry that had been connected to his father’s reign. As I stated earlier, whenever people stray from the Lord it is always accompanied by direct disobedience to His commands and His will. It is always a direct result of caving in to the pressure of those around them who do not love God and serve Him, and usually due to a desire to “be like them.” Or, it is a direct result of satisfying their own fleshy appetites for self-will and autonomy.

The only way to remedy the situation is to repent and return to the Lord. That is, get rid of all the “idolatry” connected with the gods of this world. This principle still holds true today. If there is anyone here today that has strayed from the Lord then please know that the first thing you need to do is repent. That means you turn away from the path your on and return to the path that God has laid out.

II.  Obedience

One of the evidences we find in Scripture that indicates Hezekiah’s and Josiah’s obedience to the Lord is their observance of Passover.

2 Chron. 30:1ff and 35:1ff.

In spite of the fact that the fathers and grandfathers of these kings had led the people into idolatry, I’m quite sure that there were a number of individuals in Judah and Israel who had not forsaken the Lord. I am confident that their hearts were filled with excitement and gratitude when these kings announced that the Passover was being re-instituted.

In addition to these two instances when Passover was observed as a clear sign that the leaders had returned to the Lord, there is one more instance of Passover observance that takes place much later. The reforms and obedience to the requirements of God’s law that we just described under King Hezekiah and King Josiah were short-lived. 

If you remember your Bible history, you know that the nations of Israel and Judah continued their downward slide into idolatry and pagan practices, even reaching the point they were sacrificing their children in the fire to pagan gods. Because of the wickedness of the nations, God brought judgment upon them and allowed enemies to conquer them and carry many of them away into exile. After several decades of living in exile in a foreign country, God started bringing His people back to their own land. 

Within two years after returning to their homeland, the people of Israel had laid the foundation for the rebuilding of the temple. However, due to severe opposition, the work was interrupted for 16 years. Finally, the temple is rebuilt and immediately dedicated to the Lord. About 40 days following the temple dedication, the exiles celebrate the Passover in obedience to the Lord.

Ezra 6:16-22

It has been 70 years since the first temple was destroyed and all that time, the proper observance of Passover was abandoned. So the stories of these kings and the returning exiles help us see that obedience to the Lord included the observance of Passover. The return to the observance of Passover reminds us that God requires and desires our obedience to His Word. If we truly want to demonstrate our love for Him and appreciation for His deliverance from bondage, then we need to be diligent about obeying Him also.

III. Celebration

The final emphasis we want to point out this morning is celebration.

In all of the examples I have mentioned, the people were more than likely celebrating God’s grace and victory in overcoming the enemies of paganism and their return to the worship of the one true God. But, ever since the very first observance of Passover recorded in the book of Exodus, it included the element of celebration for God’s mighty deliverance from slavery and bondage in Egypt.

This is even more clearly seen in the Psalms.

Ps. 77, 80-81, 105, & 135-136 are all different Psalms that relate the details of Exodus and Passover. Most, if not all, of them do so for the purpose of praising God for His intervention in behalf of His people.

In addition to these Psalms I’ve already mentioned, there are a group of Psalms that are called the “Hallel Psalms.”

Hallel (ha-láy-el) – Hebrew word for praise. The word “hallelujah” comes from that word.

These Psalms include 113-118, and they are psalms of joyful thanksgiving for the redemption the Lord has provided for His people Israel. These psalms are what the Jews would sing in worship celebrations, which would include Passover. They were also an important of the Passover Seder.

Usually Ps. 113-114 would be sung before the meal, and Psalms 115-118 after the meal. (Richard Flashman in Messiah in the Passover)

In Matthew 26 and Mark 14, the passages that describe the last supper Jesus had with His disciples, it says that they “sung a hymn and went out to the Mt. of Olives.” The Messiah, along with his closest disciples, is praising God for the redemption God has provided for His people.

Conclusion:

As we have been studying the connection between Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, leading up to Easter, I hope this message today will serve as a reminder that God not only requires, but He delights in the repentance, obedience and celebrations of His people.

In ancient times, the people of Israel were chosen to be in a covenant relationship with God that is still in effect today. But Jesus, at the Last Supper, instituted a covenant with all people of all nations and languages through the blood He shed at Calvary. Our only legitimate response to His offer is repent, obey and celebrate. Repent (turn away from) our sin, obey His Word and celebrate His salvation and marvelous grace.

As we celebrate our salvation this morning, let us stand together and sing the hymn: My Jesus I Love Thee.

The Atonement of Christ

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player.)

This is the fourth message in a series of sermons given during Lent in which details of the Passover in the Old Testament are compared to the events surrounding the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our salvation. This sermon discusses the topic of atonement, emphasizing the fact that God chose Passover as the day His Son would die for the sins of the world.

Written Excerpts:

Romans 3:23-26 ^(NKJV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Introduction:

For the last three weeks we have been looking at the Passover event recorded in the Old Testament and comparing it with various details of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross for our salvation from sin. We want to continue the discussion today by speaking on the subject of atonement and making a connection to the celebration of Passover.

(Illustrations Unlimited, Edited by James Hewett) There was a little girl whose parents had a miserable marriage and were divorced, having nothing in common except their affection for the child. One day as the girl was playing in the street she was knocked down by a bus and seriously injured. Taken to the hospital, she was examined by the doctors but was found to be beyond human aid. 

Hastily summoned to the hospital, her parents heard the sad news and stood silently, one on either side of the bed, looking down helplessly at their little girl. As they stood there, the child's eyes suddenly opened and seeing her parents she tried to smile. Then drawing one arm from under the sheet, she held it out in the direction of her father. "Daddy," she said, "give me your hand." Turning to her mother, she stretched out her other arm. "Mummy," she said, "give me your hand." Then with a final effort of her fast-ebbing strength she drew them close together. 

This is a picture of what Christ did on the cross. The Savior [who literally was the outstretched hand of God], took the hand of sinful, hateful humanity and placed it in the loving hand of [the Father]. Jesus reconciled us to God; He broke down the barrier; He restored the broken fellowship caused by sin or turning our backs on God. Just as in this little girl's dying to bring her parents together, Jesus was dying to bring God and us together, but [we must receive its benefit by a willful act of faith].

One of the major benefits of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the reconciliation between God and humanity. Because of sin, God’s law had been violated and separation had resulted. The only way for reconciliation to occur required the demands of the law to be satisfied while sparing the life of the offender. Jesus made that possible by His own death.

This morning I want to walk through some of the important concepts in Scripture related to the Atonement and then tie it in with the events of Passover, which Jesus fulfills.

I.    The meaning of atonement

I suppose we should begin with a short discussion on what the word “atonement” actually means. Most of us have probably heard the word used many times, and we may actually use it in some of our daily conversations. But, I wonder if we fully grasp the biblical meaning of the word?

Some definitions:

(Van A. Harvey, A Handbook of Theological Terms) Generally, the term refers to the reconciliation (at-one-ment) of two parties. In Christian Theology, it refers to the restoration of the broken relationship between God and man that was accomplished in the life and death of Jesus Christ.

(Michael Cohen, “Passover and the Atonement,” in Messiah in the Passover, ed. by Bock and Glaser) [Quoting from various other sources Cohen says] A basic dictionary definition of atonement is “satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury.”…the word for atonement in O.T. Hebrew means “make an atonement,” “make reconciliation,” or “purge.” It also includes such actions as “to cover over,” “to forgive,” “to expiate,” “to wipe away,” or “to reconcile.”

(James Denny, Quoted in Profiles in Wesleyan Theology by Leslie Wilcox, Vol. III) Atonement is that act of God, whereby through the death of Christ, He made full provision for the settlement of the sin problem.

(William Burt Pope, Ibid) We mean by the atonement the whole economy of our Lord’s saving intervention as consummated on the cross. [Leslie Wilcox goes on to write], That means that whatever way you view sin, here is God’s all-inclusive answer to meet that need. As regards [to] man’s rebellion, it is reconciliation. As regards [to] man’s bondage, it is redemption. As regards [to] man’s transgression, it is pardon. Whatever term you may use to portray the awful dilemma of man as a sinner, this meets them all in one great act of Divine rescue.

II.  The biblical description of atonement

Leslie Wilcox, now deceased, was a professor of theology at a well-known Bible college in Cincinnati for many years. In his three-volume work titled, Profiles in Wesleyan Theology, he provides a helpful discussion describing the various features of the atonement that are expressed in Scripture.

For our purposes today, I want to borrow his basic outline.

The Need for Atonement

(Wilcox) Simply stated, its need is the wreck and ruin wrought by sin.

See Romans 3:9-18

15 statements in this passage that consists of quotes from the Old Testament. 1^st 7 statements declare the extensiveness of sin with key words like “all,” have sinned or “none” are righteous. The next 8 statements tell the depths of sin. They describe the darkest characteristics to which man can and does fall because of sin.

The need is universal, and it is tragically dark! Something must be done that will reach all of humanity in all of its depravity.

The Provision for Atonement

Rom. 3:23-25

Immediately after summarizing the tragic need, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Paul launches into the remedy God provided.

Romans 3:24-25 ^(KJV) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Listen to the words Paul uses to describe what God has done. 

Some words describe the source of God’s provision: “grace” (including mercy, and love).

Some words describe the cost of God’s provision: “blood” (including cross, death, suffer, delivered, sent…).

Some words describe the changes made possible by God’s provision:

• (Change in regards to the Law) “justified,” “remission,” (pardon) and “forbearance.” 
• (Change in regards to relationship) “Propitiation” (covering, atonement, reconciliation). 
• (Change in regards to ourselves) “Redemption,” (ransom). 

All of these words that the Apostle uses emphasize the fact that the provision God has made is adequate in every way for the problem we have.

The Exclusiveness of the Atonement

There is only one way of salvation. We do not get to devise our own plan or our own method of reconnecting with God. The only way of salvation is through the atonement of Jesus Christ. All of the O.T. sacrifices and offerings that were to be done exactly as God commanded simply illustrate the validity of Jesus’ claim, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by me.”

God is the offended party. He is the One who sets the standards by which the plan of Atonement must operate. It’s not up to us. The only part that is “up to us” is to believe it, accept it, and live it.

The Specific Plan of Atonement

Jesus’ death on the cross was not an after-thought of God’s once He discovered that mankind had disobeyed Him. Adam and Eve’s sin did not catch Him by surprise. My sin and your sin did not catch God by surprise. We are told more than once in Scripture that the sacrifice of God’s Son was planned “before the foundation of the world.”

Ephesians 1:4 ^(KJV) According as he hath chosen us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

God has planned since eternity past to have a holy people for Himself. 

Other Scriptures tell us that Jesus is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Prophets foretold it; Jesus predicted it and willing submits to it. It is all part of the original plan.

Remember that if the Almighty God with infinite knowledge and wisdom planned the Atonement, then it will be completely sufficient for the magnitude of the need.

The Extent of the Atonement

This speaks to the fact that no one who ever has lived or ever will live for all time has been left out of the provision. It is a Universal Atonement.

Heb. 2:9 – Jesus tasted death for “every man.”

Is. 53:6 – “All we… have gone astray… laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Wilcox) The 2^nd “all” is equal to the 1^st “all.” 

“whosoever” passages: Christ came and provided the benefits of His sacrifice for “whosoever will.”

There are so many more ways we could describe the facts and benefits of the Atonement, but, as I stated earlier, it would take several more sermons to do so.

III. Atonement and Passover

In the book I mentioned earlier, “Messiah in the Passover,” the chapter written by Michael Cohen is dedicated to the subject of the Atonement and Passover. There are a few points mentioned in that chapter that we haven’t covered yet, so I’ll wrap up with those now.

Cohen, a Christian Jew, describes how it impacted his life to recognize that God chose Passover as the day for the death of His Son, Jesus. This caused him to realize that Passover is more than just a celebration of God’s deliverance of a nation from slavery. It is now a celebration with eternal and spiritual significance for the entire human race.

 There are other parallels that can be made:

A.  Passover took care of the problem of God’s people being separated from Him and the land He had promised. Atonement takes care of the problem of all people separated from God because of sin.

B.  Passover requires a payment of the blood of lambs. The Atonement required the payment of Christ’s blood.

C.  Passover includes a confession of faith by the Hebrews as they obey God’s command and apply the blood to the door frame. The Atonement of Christ requires a confession of faith in the sacrifice of Jesus and obedience to His Word.

D.  Passover includes a transfer of benefits as the Hebrews become the people of God, in covenant relationship with God, and traveling to a land promised by God. Atonement, likewise includes a transfer of benefits to every believer: family, covenant relationship, and promise of inheritance.

Conclusion:

As we meditate on the atonement that God provided through His Son, Jesus, I trust that our hearts not only respond in genuine faith and obedience to His Word, but that we will worship, honor and adore Him for His glorious plan.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!!!”

I thank God today for the blood of Jesus!

Let’s close the service by standing and singing this final hymn:

A Wonderful Fountain            

Old Practice, New Meaning

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player.)

This is the third message in a series of sermons given during Lent in which details of the Passover in the Old Testament are compared to the events surrounding the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our salvation. This sermon was given for a regular observance of Communion and discusses the new meaning Jesus gives to the "Third Cup" of the Passover Seder.

Written Excerpts:

Luke 22:17-20

Introduction:

You may have heard about the young lady that was helping her mother prepare the ham for Easter. Before her mom put the ham into the roasting pan, she cut off the end of the ham. The daughter asked her mom why she cut off the end of the ham and the mom said, “I don’t know, my mom always did it.” So, the daughter, determined to find the answer to the mystery, went to the grandmother and asked her why she always cut off the end of the ham before baking it. And the grandmother said, “I don’t know, my mom always did it.”

Well, I don’t recall if the story related whether the great-grandmother was still living, but the granddaughter kept researching and somehow found the answer to her question. The ham was originally cut off because the pan was too small!

Some old practices may need to be eliminated because they no longer serve a necessary or useful purpose, like cutting off the end of the ham! There are other practices, however, that do not need to be eliminated completely. They just need to be adapted to a new purpose with a new meaning.

My wife and I were just recently discussing an article she had read online where someone was denouncing the various celebrations of Easter because the celebration events were supposedly started by the church to coincide with various pagan rituals and practices. Well, if that is true, it was about time the focus was taken from the devil and used for the Lord! 

As we approach the time of Easter, I have been trying to bring messages that point out some of the parallels between the passion of Christ and the Jewish Passover. We have talked about the “Prelude to Passover” in which we discussed the ways that God announced to the Israelites what he was going to do and prepared them for it. Last week we discussed the topic of redemption as it was specifically referred to in the OT regarding the Exodus. We reviewed how that redemption for the Israelites meant “deliverance” from Egyptian bondage. We also learned that the people of Israel were required to redeem their firstborn sons and firstborn animals as a constant reminder of the deliverance God granted for them.

Today’s message is also on the theme of redemption, but we’re going to move ahead to the New Testament and talk about Passover as observed by Jesus. We will probably revisit this topic when we come to the Good Friday service, but for today we’ll focus our minds on some background information about Jewish Passover celebrations and the way Jesus provided new meaning for His disciples. 

I.    Passover Celebration Details

Jewish scholars tell us that the celebration of Passover has evolved somewhat over the centuries. There were specific instructions given to the Israelites for the first observance, but even those were slightly modified later in the book of Deuteronomy. The change seems to imply that Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread were one and the same. Later, there was also a change from each individual family killing and eating the Passover Lamb in their respective homes, to doing it at the Tabernacle / Temple in Jerusalem.

Throughout the history of Israel, when they had a temple or didn’t have a temple; when they were in their homeland or when they were in exile; the practices were apparently adapted to fit the circumstances.

Jewish historical literature seems to indicate that the normal observance of Passover was pretty well established in the time of Jesus. In fact, when Jesus instructs His disciples to go prepare the Passover (Lk. 22:7), it appears that Jesus doesn’t have to give them specific instructions about how to prepare it. They apparently already knew what was needed and expected. 

Today, I want to briefly describe the order of Passover observances for Jews in the 1^st century. This is not an exhaustive description – just hitting most of it. (Not everything I am describing today is mentioned in the accounts of Jesus and the disciples’ celebration of Passover.)

Passover observance is called the Seder, which is a Hebrew word meaning “order” or “service,” and refers to the ceremonial meal to celebrate Passover. The Passover ceremony revolves around a plate called a “Seder plate,” which contains several items that are all part of the order and have symbolic meaning. 

(I borrowed this information from Jewish Christian authors, Larry Feldman, David Sedaca and others. They go into much greater detail how every part of the ceremony can be applied to Jesus and the NT gospel. I won’t spend that much time on them today.)

1. Drinking the 1^st cup – “the fruit of the vine.” (Lk. 2:17) The Cup of Sanctification or Cup of Blessing.

2. Dipping of parsley (Hebrew: karpas). Dipped twice in salt water. 1^st dip – reminder of redeemed from bitterness of slavery. 2^nd dip – reminder of deliverance through red sea. The karpas or parsley is also symbolic of the hyssop that the Israelites dipped in blood to apply to door frame.

3. The Yachatz. A term that literally means “divide.” The Seder table has an embroidered pouch that contains 3 compartments. Each compartment contains a piece of “matzah” (unleavened bread). Yachatz refers to the breaking of the middle piece of matzah. (Lk. 22:19?) This piece of matzah that is broken off is then wrapped up and hidden. 

4. DAYENU (dai-AY-noo) – The singing of a song of thanks to God for all His benefits. Word literally means, “It would have been enough.” 

5. MAKKOT – The Second Cup; The Cup of Judgment or Cup of Plagues. Reciting the judgments against Egypt.

6. ZEROAH (zeh-ROH-ah) – A shankbone of a lamb that is on the Seder plate. Probably added after the Temple was destroyed and Israelites were no longer able to do the sacrifices of lambs, so this lifting of the shankbone symbolized the destruction of the Temple and the previous sacrifices.

7. MATZAH – The leader raises a piece of matzah and describes how the people of Israel were forced to flee Egypt in such haste that they couldn’t wait for the bread to raise.

8. BEITZAH (bay-TZAH) – “Egg.” It is hardboiled or roasted. There is nothing in the Seder “liturgy” to discuss it, but the egg is eaten after being dipped in salt water. Some say it traditionally represented sorrow over the destruction of the Temple.

9. AFIKOMAN (ah-fee-KO-men) – “dessert.” After the meal, the children search for the hidden piece of matzah that we referred to earlier. When it is found, the leader buys it back and breaks it into small pieces for everyone to eat. It is the last food to be eaten after the meal.

10. HAGEULAH – (The Third Cup) The Cup of Redemption. After eating the afikoman, the third cup is filled and shared. It represented the purchase price paid for the release of the people of Israel from Egypt.

11. ELIYAHU – The Cup of Elijah. A place is provided at the table for “Elijah” complete with a cup of wine. Jewish tradition holds that Elijah will announce the coming of the Messiah during the Passover Seder. A child is sent to the door to see if Elijah is coming.

12. HALLEL – (The Fourth Cup) The Cup of Praise. Accompanied by singing and rejoicing over the redemption from bondage.

As I stated earlier, I’ve only described the highlights or main points of the ceremony. There is so much more to understand that we don’t have time to discuss. 

Before we move on to the celebration of communion, I want to emphasize what Jesus did with His disciples.

II.   New Meaning for Old Practice

I mentioned earlier that the Passover meal and ritual that Jesus celebrated with His disciples was probably a lot like what I have just described.

Luke 22:20 tells us that Jesus took the cup after supper…

Most scholars believe that this would have been the Third Cup of the Seder that I described a few minutes ago.

It was called ha-geulah, “the redemption.”

The first cup was mentioned in verse 17. We do not have any mention of the second cup, but it is assumed that they would have already drunk from the second cup before verse 20. The cup mentioned in verse 20 is presumed to be the third cup because of what Jesus says as they share it.

As He prepares to share the cup of wine with His disciples He transforms the meaning away from the redemption God provided centuries earlier and turns it toward Himself.

(David Sedaca) Jesus reaffirms the nature of redemption by telling His disciples that the third cup represents the price paid for our redemption… The earlier lamb was a mere foreshadowing of the Lamb of God to come. Jesus declares that the time of fulfillment has come and He is the One, the Lamb of God for whom the Jewish people had been waiting.

To paraphrase what Jesus says, “This cup represents the price I’m willing to pay to buy you back from a life of slavery to sin to a life of joyous personal fellowship with God.”

Conclusion:

It is clearer to me than ever before how the entire Passover meal and ceremony would have been so rich with meaning for every Jew that celebrated it. Each and every part of it represented wonderful things God had done. Now, their Master, their Lord, and their Jesus is turning the meaning of this cup away from the redemption from Egypt and pointing to Himself as the Redeemer from sin.

The red wine, which represented the blood of the Passover lamb, is now representing the blood of the Savior. The redemption is not just from physical slavery, bondage and hard labor, but it is redemption from the bondage of sin and the condemnation of the law that tells us we are worthy of death!

Redeemed by the Blood

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player.)

This is the second message in a series of sermons given during Lent in which details of the Passover in the Old Testament are compared to the events surrounding the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our salvation. This sermon discusses the idea of redemption in the original Passover event, in the ongoing requirements of redeeming firstborn sons of Israel and in the sacrifice made by Jesus.

Written Excerpts:

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 

Introduction:

I stated last week that I planned to do a series of messages regarding some of the parallels between the Passover and Exodus from Egypt and the emphasis in the NT on Christ being our new Passover lamb for a new kind of deliverance. In the first message last week, we talked about some of the ways God prepared the Israelites for the coming deliverance by the messages He gave to the patriarchs. We also talked about the ways that God promised His personal involvement in their rescue. In one of the passages we looked at, Ex. 6:6, God stated that He was going to “redeem” Israel from Egypt. Today I want to continue our thoughts about Passover by looking more closely at the theme of redemption.

About 1 ½ years ago I did a series of messages on the general theme of redemption. In the very first message of that series I tried to define and describe what is meant by the term “redeem” or “redemption.” Please allow me to review that information for the sake of those who would not have been here for those sermons, and also for those who need a “refresher” of what was said.

The Meaning of Redemption

Earthly/material meaning:

Buy Back – i.e. Pawn Shop   

Pay Off – i.e. a lien, ransom   

Turn in / Exchange – i.e. Lottery/Raffle Ticket; Store Coupons

Atone for – i.e. “He redeemed himself by bringing roses home the next day.”

Spiritual Meaning: 

I previously shared a comment by a theologian named Charles Hodge regarding passages of Scripture that discuss the matter of redemption. This is what he said:

The idea running through all these texts, however various their reference, is that of payment made for our redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply cancelled, but is fully paid. Christ's blood or life, which he surrendered for them, is the "ransom" by which the deliverance of his people from the servitude of sin and from its penal consequences is secured. It is the plain doctrine of Scripture that "Christ saves us neither by the mere exercise of power, nor by his doctrine, nor by his example, nor by the moral influence which he exerted, nor by any subjective influence on his people, whether natural or mystical, but as a satisfaction to divine justice, as an expiation for sin, and as a ransom from the curse and authority of the law, thus reconciling us to God by making it consistent with his perfection to exercise mercy toward sinners" (Hodge's Systematic Theology).

Let us go back now and review the theme of redemption through the background of the Passover.

I.     God viewed the entire Passover and Exodus as a Redemption.

Nation redeemed from slavery – Repeatedly the Exodus is referred to as a redemption from slavery and from Egyptian bondage/control.

Is the Exodus to be understood as a redemption in the same way we have defined it, “buying back, or paying a ransom?” If so, who did God pay for Israel? And, what payment did He give for them? One author seemed to suggest that all the lambs slain in preparation for the night of Passover was God’s payment for Israel. It seems like this could only be true if all the lambs were identified as belonging to God, which is implied in Psalm 50:10.

However, It seems more certain to understand the use of the word “redeem” as it is described in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 

 (ISBE) From this start the word "redemption" throughout the Old Testament is used in the general sense of deliverance. God is the Redeemer of Israel in the sense that He is the Deliverer of Israel (Deut. 9:26; 2 Samuel 7:23; 1 Chron. 17:21; Isaiah 52:3).

Read Exodus 6:6; Deut. 7:7;  9:26; 15:15 

Understood in this fashion, the Exodus that was initiated by the Passover truly is a redemption by almighty God.

II.    God insists on the perpetual redemption of Israel’s sons.

Passover in Egypt

The very first Passover, on the night before the Exodus, God required the firstborn sons of Israel to be “redeemed, delivered, protected” by the slaughter of a lamb and its blood being applied to the door frame. Even though I could not find any specific reference in Scripture where that slaughter of the lambs for the Passover is referred to as a “redemption,” yet that truly is what it provided. Every firstborn son was in danger of being destroyed by the death angel, unless his life was delivered or redeemed by the death of the lamb.

Perpetually whenever first son is born

The first Passover is not the only time that a lamb had to be killed in redemption for the sons of Israel.

Exodus 13:11-15 

There are other passages in the books of Exodus and Numbers where reference is made regarding the need to “redeem” the firstborn males by offering a lamb, or by paying a redemption price of five shekels of silver.

Numbers 18:15-17 

Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries – Likewise the ‘redemption’ of the first-born son is seen as the memorial of Israel’s ‘redemption’ from Egypt. Like all of Israel’s religious customs, it is interwoven with the history of salvation: henceforth, it will commemorate a historical event.

Not only did God institute the Passover originally and require it to be memorialized by annual re-enactment of the meal followed by a 7-day festival of “Unleavened Bread;” but He also requires the redemption of unclean firstborn animals and all firstborn human males. This perpetual requirement is a constant reminder of the great redemption (deliverance) He performed for Israel by bringing them out of bondage in Egypt. It is also a reminder that because of the kind of deliverance God provided (killing of the firstborn in Egypt), He has a claim on all firstborn sons and firstborn of every animal. 

In thinking about this, I see a parallel with the sacrament of communion, which Christians frequently observe and celebrate. It is an ongoing reminder of our redemption. Just as the Israelites who continually celebrated Passover, and continually practiced the redemption of firstborn males as a reminder of God’s divine intervention and deliverance, we Christians celebrate Communion as a reminder of God’s divine intervention and redemption from sin. 

III. God provides redemption for all humanity from judgment for sin.

Not only did God consider the Exodus of Israelites from Egypt as a redemption, and not only did He require the Israelites to perpetually commemorate that redemption by observing the Passover every year and by paying a ransom for every firstborn son, but God also provided redemption for all of humanity by paying a ransom for our salvation.

Galatians 4:3-7 

Context is 3:13ff; i.e. purpose of the law  

We were in “slavery” to elements of the world. (4:3)

“Elements” = rudiments, principles; that is, material vs. spiritual principles. 

Understood in context, it means temporal, visible, or elementary understanding of the law. Now it’s time to “graduate” to spiritual understanding.

God redeemed us from condemnation of law.

We now are no longer slaves, but sons.

1 Peter 1:17-19 

Peter clearly seems to be making a connection between the sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the lambs in the OT.

Conclusion:

The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread was a reminder every year for the Israelites that God had redeemed them from the bondage of Egypt. Every time a firstborn son was born into an Israeli family, his life had to be redeemed as a reminder that God had a perpetual claim on all firstborn sons ever since the first Passover.

Satan had a claim over all of us because of Adam & Eve’s disobedience. The Law had a claim over us because of the consequences it required for our sins. But God, through His infinite grace and mercy, redeemed us by the blood of His own Son and paid the ransom price to release us from the bondage of sin and from the condemnation of the Law.

We celebrate that redemption through the Sacrament of Communion, which we will be observing again next Sunday morning.

Let us rejoice and sing about the redemption that God has provided to all of us.

Redeemed