2024.04.21.SERMON NOTES. The Passover Lamb – It’s all about THE BLOOD
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: Behold the LAMB OF GOD WHO takes away the Sins of the World. CHRIST our PASSOVER, is sacrificed for us. And when I see the BLOOD of the LAMB, I will Pass Over You!
One of the greatest privileges and blessings in my life, is to share the Passover Seder with others. Teaching the traditional roots of our Judeo-Christian Faith, and revealing the hidden mystery of the Passover through the Haggadah (“The telling”).
Scripture: Exodus 12:42, Exodus 12:1-14, John 1:29-36, Luke 22:15, Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-32, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, Psalms 51:1-12, Exodus 6:6-8, John 14:1-6, Revelation 19:7-9.
NOTE: Passover begins Monday April 22, 2024 which means that Good Friday and Resurrection Day actually happen later this week!
Our Christian/Greek/Solar calendar does not align with the Hebrew/Lunar Calendar this year, so all the HOLYDAYS will seem to be off.
Exodus 12:42 (ESV) It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.
Exodus 12:1-14 The Passover Instituted
(See also Num. 9:1–14; Deut. 16:1–8; Ezek. 45:21–25)
1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. 10 You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. 11 And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.
12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
14 ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU
Exodus 12:12-14 (NKJV)
12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
14 ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BLOOD
Leviticus 17:11 (NKJV) For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
COVERED BY THE BLOOD.
When Adam and Eve sinned, GOD HIMSELF sacrificed an animal to make skins to cover their shame (sin).
In the Tabernacle Holy of Holies, the Ark of the Covenant contained the Manna, Aarons Rod, and the 10 commandments which all represent the sins of mankind. On the top, the High Priest would take the Blood of the Sacrifice, and sprinkle it upon the top of the Ark, the Beama Seat. As GOD would look down upon the Ark, He would not see the sins of mankind, for it was covered by the Blood.
CRUCIFY HIM. HIS BLOOD BE ON US AND OUR CHILDREN!
Matthew 27:22-25 (KJV)
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
WHAT WAS MEANT FOR A CURSE, GOD USES TO BLESS US.
While the people cried out, HIS Blood be on us and our children, they meant it as a curse.
But GOD turns curses into Blessings.
Little did they know the profound words they spoke out that actually were required for our atonement and forgiveness.
ON THE CROSS, THE GREAT EXCHANGE OCCURRED. Our Sin for HIS BLOOD COVERING RIGHTEOUSNESS.
We WANT the Blood of CHRIST to be upon us.
We PLEAD for HIS BLOOD to cover us.
The blood that flows through our veins is sinful. Only the Work of the HOLY SPIRIT and the WORD of GOD can cleanse, wash, and renew us.
We NEED THE BLOOD OF CHRIST to bring us back from death to LIFE.
JUST AS THE BLOOD WAS APPLIED TO THE DOOR POSTS AND LINTEL, JESUS IS THE DOOR. AND ALL WHO ARE INSIDE CHRIST ARE COVERED AND PROTECTED BY THE BLOOD.
We are the Temple of the HOLY SPIRIT, and THE BLOOD is applied to the Door to our Hearts, through CHRIST JESUS.
SO, WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
As Believers in CHRIST JESUS, we are called to go into the whole world and share the GOOD NEWS of the GOSPEL. We are to teach others about JESUS, and HIM Crucified, Buried and Risen, Ascended into Heaven, and coming back soon. Even so LORD JESUS, come quickly.
Exodus 12:26-27 26 “And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.”
Exodus 13:10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in HIS season from year to year.
John 1:29-36 (also Matt. 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21, 22)
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
Luke 22:15 And HE (Jesus) said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer:
Luke 22:19 …Do this in remembrance of me.
1 Corinthians 11:23-27
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
(Matt. 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:14–23)
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
EXAMINE YOURSELF
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 7 “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS (Pray this out loud)
Psalms 51:1-12 (select verses)
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight…:
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
AMEN
Vs. 4. No matter what sin we’ve done, it is all against the LORD.
Mark 1:15 (NKJV) …“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
SCRIPTURE FOR PASSOVER – THE 4 CUPS.
Exodus 6:6-8
6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: “I am the LORD;
I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,
I will rescue you from their bondage, and
I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
I REDEEM YOU WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM
As a Father would receive his children, JESUS fulfills this prophetic statement with greater meaning.
“I will Redeem you with an outstretched arm”. We see it fulfilled as JESUS nailed on the cross for our salvation. One day, those who have rejected YESHUA JESUS, will have the scales removed from their eyes and will see HIM, whom they pierced, and weep. My prayer is that those who are seeking the Messiah, would find HIM in CHRIST JESUS, the SON of GOD, and LAMB of GOD WHO takes away the sins of the world.
Exodus 6:8 8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.’ ”
This scripture is often left out when discussing the 4 cups of the Seder. But once again, we go a step further into this verse, and see a NEW Beginning (the meaning of the number 8), that will be in that place of our INHERITANCE, Kept in Heaven for you and me, ready to be revealed in the last time.
And JESUS even told us of such…
John 14:1-6 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Revelation 19:7-9
7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
PASSOVER SEDER
An Order of Worship
Preparations
• Bedikat Chametz - The Search for Leaven
• Brechat Haner - Kindling of the Candles
• Significance of the 4 Cups**
During the Passover Seder we will drink four glasses of wine (juice): The Cup of Sanctification, the Cup of Plagues, The Cup of Redemption and the Cup of Praise. We will say the traditional Jewish prayer before drinking each cup.
Hebrew: Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam borey pree ha-gafen.
Blessed are You, LORD our GOD, KING of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
There is traditional meaning with each cup as well as Yeshua (Jesus)'s fulfillment.
1. CUP OF SANCTIFICATION:
Traditional - We are to be clean of yeast. (Set apart)
Fulfillment - We are to be clean of sin -- Yeshua (Jesus) is the only way to be cleansed of our sins.
2. CUP OF DELIVERANCE – CUP OF PLAGUES/JUDGMENTS:
Traditional - Remembrance of the Plagues in Egypt
Fulfillment - Remembrance of our trials and tribulations - develops perseverance, humility and maturity in our walk with the Lord.
3. CUP OF REDEMPTION:
Traditional - Symbolizes the blood of the Passover lamb who saved the Israelites from death
Fulfillment - Yeshua (Jesus) is our Passover Lamb who's blood saved us from death. This cup is the cup used in communion or The Lord's Supper.
4. CUP OF RESTORATION – CUP OF PRAISE:
Traditional - Give thanks to God for guiding the Israelites out of Egypt
Fulfillment - We are to always have praise on our lips for our salvation that is given through Yeshua (Jesus).
THE SEDER - THE ORDER (15 Steps to Freedom)
1. Kadesh –First Cup The Cup of Sanctification
**1st CUP - OF SANCTIFICATION:
We are Set Apart to be clean of sin -- Yeshua (Jesus) is the only way to be cleansed of our sins.
2. Ur’chatz Washing of the Hands
3. Karpas Dipping of the Parsley
4. Yachutz Raising up and Breaking The Middle Matzah
5. Magid The Telling of the Exodus Story
The Telling Of The Passover Story (the longest section of the Seder)
Ma-Nishtanah (The Four Questions), Song Dayenu – “It Would Have Been Enough”
Makkot – *Second Cup: The Ten Plagues; The Cup Of Plagues/Judgment
**2nd CUP - OF DELIVERANCE – CUP OF PLAGUES/JUDGMENTS:
Remembrance of our trials and tribulations - develops perseverance, humility and maturity in our walk with the Lord.
6. Rachatz Washing of the Hands
7. Motzi Blessing over Matzah and the Meal
Hebrew: Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam ha-motzi lechem min ha-eretz.
Blessed are You, LORD our GOD, KING of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.
8. Matzah Blessing and Eating Matzah (Unleavened Bread of Affliction)
Hebrew: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha’olam, asher kidshanu bi-mitzvotov vi-tzivanu al achilat matzah.
Blessed are You, LORD our GOD, KING of the Universe, who makes us holy with His commandments and commands us to eat matzah.
9. Maror Eating of the Bitter Herbs
10. Korech Eating of the Charoset (Hillel Sandwich)
11. Shulchan Orech The Passover Festive Meal
12. Tzaphun Eating of the Afikomen
13. Barech Blessing after the Meal
Ha-Geulah - Third Cup The Cup of Redemption
**3rd CUP - OF REDEMPTION:
Yeshua (Jesus) is our Passover Lamb who's blood saved us from death. This cup is the cup used in communion or The Lord's Supper.
Yeshua (Jesus) said that He wouldn’t partake of the fruit of the vine until He does with us in Heaven (at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb).
14. Hallel - Fourth Cup The Cup of Praise
**4th CUP - OF RESTORATION:
We are to always have praise on our lips for our salvation that is given through Yeshua (Jesus).
Shirim Songs of Praise Psalms 113-118
15. Nirtzah Acceptance
The promise that GOD will accept our service.
Tefillah – A Time of Reflection
How do you respond to the Passover Celebration?
What is the LORD saying to you?
Take a moment to give thanks to the LORD for HIS Love, Mercy and Grace for sending THE RESCUER, THE REDEEMER, THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD; JESUS CHRIST, YESHUA HA-Mashiach, our MESSIAH, LORD, SAVIOR and Soon Coming KING. Amen.
The LORD Blesses and Keeps you,
The LORD makes HIS face to shine upon you, and to be gracious to you,
The LORD lifts up with HIS Countenance on you, and gives you HIS PEACE. Amen.
Shalom everyone,
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
