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Passover: An Extraordinary Peace Offering

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

The Passover, as an annual commemoration of Jesus Christ's death, holds profound significance beyond a mere sin offering. Observed at the beginning of the 14th of Abib, it emphasizes a distinctive meal centered on the specially prepared lamb, with detailed instructions from God on when and how it should be eaten, what should accompany it, and what to do with the remains. The repeated focus in Scripture is on the eating of the Passover, distinguishing it from a sin offering, which was not generally consumed. In the context of the Exodus, the Passover lamb's blood on the doorposts represented the life given to redeem those within each participating house, not to symbolize forgiveness. God overlooked the sins of the Israelites, demonstrating mercy rather than justice, as the Hebrew word for Passover, pesach, implies a pretermission or exemption. This act of passing over their sins was not about atonement but about gracious acceptance. The Passover instructions differ significantly from those of a sin offering. The emphasis on eating, the shared meal within a circumcised household, the requirement to roast the lamb rather than boil it, the inclusion of specific parts like the head and entrails, and the consumption in homes rather than a holy place all set the Passover apart. These distinctions highlight that the Passover aligns more closely with the peace offering, which pictures fellowship and harmony with God through a shared meal, celebrating His favor and acceptance. The symbols of the Passover, particularly the bread and wine, carry deep meaning. The bread represents Christ's body as a symbol of life, even eternal life, embodying the sinless life He lived. As we partake of the bread, we become one with the living Savior, strengthened spiritually by His perfect life. The wine symbolizes the blood of the covenant, representing a pledge of God's faithfulness and the promise of spiritual completion. This covenantal relationship, initiated by God's mercy, encompasses ongoing fellowship with the Father and the Son, uniting those who partake in divine communion. Thus, the Passover is a solemn yet joyful celebration of the peace and well-being we have in Christ, a memorial of His death that sealed the covenant, and a grateful observance of our spiritual abundance and hope due to God's unwavering loyalty. Through these symbols, God accepts those who partake, finding satisfaction in the fellowship facilitated by Jesus Christ.

Passover and the Blood of Jesus Christ

Sermonette by

The Passover observance serves as an annual memorial of Christ's death, which sealed the New Covenant, and a grateful recognition of the spiritual abundance and hope that we have due to God's faithfulness. When we drink of the cup at Passover, we remember and acknowledge the unstoppable commitment of the Father and the Son to this covenant, while also reaffirming our devotion to Them in return. The blood of the New Covenant, represented by the Passover wine, is the lifeblood of God in the flesh, ingested by individuals, changing us internally due to its divine quality. This blood symbolizes not only forgiveness but a much larger picture of spiritual completion, as it is the vehicle through which God will make us complete in every good work to do His will. The Passover wine stands as a vivid token of God's unswerving commitment to this extraordinary purpose, guaranteeing that He and the Father will carry out Their promise of final redemption at Christ's return. Additionally, drinking Christ's blood, as symbolized in the Passover cup, represents the guarantee of eternal life, a life of supreme quality without sin, rooted in oneness with the Father, which begins to transform us internally when we partake of it.

How Often Should We Partake of the Lord's Supper?

Herbert W. Armstrong Booklet

The biblical proof that God's people should keep the Passover (the Lord's Supper), explaining that it occurs annually on the evening of Nisan 14.

Was Jesus Christ's Body Broken?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Was Jesus Christ's body actually broken? If so, it would have symbolized disqualification and a broken covenant. Only the bread of Passover was broken.

Humble Service

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

Jesus modeled the practice of foot-washing to demonstrate the need to be submissive to one another, to serve one another, including those who betray.

Rehearsing God's Plan

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God's holy days are a carefully crafted series of memorials that tell the story of God's magnificent plan of salvation, told in a set of parable-like vignettes.

The Awesome Cost of Salvation

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We need to be sobered at the awesomeness of the cost to set us free from sin—what the Creator endured. We have been purchased, and are obliged to our Purchaser.

The Signs of God

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Jesus Christ is not against signs; the book of John is structured around eight signs. The Old Testament is full of signs that the Pharisees missed.

Clothing, Wineskins, and Wine

'Ready Answer' by David C. Grabbe

The Parable of the Cloth and the Wineskins concludes a much longer narrative. The context and reveals deeper meanings and applications of the parable.