The Paschal Lamb

Exodus 12: 1-20 & 43-51

The title of our meditation today would seem more appropriate for the spring celebration of Resurrection Lord's Day. The very word Paschal implies an association with the Jewish Passover or the High Church - Easter festivals. While a narrow definition of the word Paschal indicates exactly that connotation, I have chosen this theme for Advent because in the coming of Jesus Christ - the Paschal purpose is one that is set before the foundation of the world and the event so profoundly looked forward to through the Exodus lambs and the whole of the Hebrew sacrificial system for many millennia.

Our passage in Exodus merely affirms the practice of the Passover begun in Egypt before the community of Israelite slaves began their Covenant relationship with their father's God at Mount Sinai. Commentator R. Alan Cole observes that: "Like all of Israel's festivals its observance was thus firmly grounded in Israel's history and God's saving acts."

Calvin tells us the purpose of the Passover: "The observation of the day itself will again recur in its proper place; it will only be suitable to observe here, that God enjoined this ceremony in order that He might wholly bind the people under obligation to Himself alone, and that from it the Israelites might learn that they should never turn away from Him, by whose kindness and hand they were redeemed. For by these means He had purchased them to Himself as His peculiar people; and, therefore, whenever He reproves them for declining from His pure worship, He complains that they were forgetful of this great favor, the memory of which ought to have been sufficient to retain them. In effect, then, the celebration of the Passover taught the Israelites that it was not lawful for them to have regard to any other God besides their Redeemer; and also that it was just and right for them to consecrate themselves to His service, since He had restored them from death to life; and thus, as in a glass or picture, He represented to their eyes His grace; and desired that they should on every succeeding year recognize what they had formerly experienced, lest it should ever depart from their memory."

And John the Baptist, in the wonderful phrase from John's Gospel, applies the context of the Passover specifically to the Christ. (1:29) "Behold! the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" And while the Creator God knew all along what He intended to do, Dr Benan notes that the phrase had no "general use until it received its distinctly Christian significance."

Is it fair, many might ask for Christians to thus take over the whole teaching and prophetic intent of the Jewish scriptures? Many times have I been taken to task for finding Christ in the passages of the Old Covenant. However, I firmly believe that we must take the long view of providential history which should teach us that the Creator God has been working towards a final chapter as well as in and through every plot twisted chapter of human endeavor since the dawn of Creation.

One of the problems of doing an annual Advent series is the fact that the usual texts are so well known, loved and used that it is difficult to preach something fresh and meaningful year after year. Unless, we take the long view of God's providential working things out for His glory and to attain His purpose. Then all of Scripture both old and new covenants witness to the Gospel of glory intended for the good of the saints in every age. And that gospel is the purpose for the work and witness of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostles quickly discerned the same understanding and showed over and over that Jesus was indeed the One proposed by the Old Covenant texts and the One purposed by God to arrange a satisfaction of every covenant He gave to His people. To that end, let us learn several lessons from the multi-millennial preparations for the bold and breathtaking announcement of John the Baptist - "Behold! the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

The first lesson we should take from this revelation is to gain a sense of awe at what the Lord was doing in and through the Lamb of God, His own precious Son. Far too many New Testament only Churches have a limited view of the babe in the manger. Yes, there were the holy angels, the wise men who followed their star and the first family who struggled even to find shelter for the baby's birth. In so far as the ancient pedigree of genealogies is recognized - the thoroughly modern disciple will little guess the ages of preparation, the countless lambs offered as intercession in the anticipation of the Christ, or the judicial and symbolic nature of the final ceremonial sacrifice.

Just as the whole country is getting a first hand experience of the electoral legal wrangling, so too must we realize that there was a similar convoluted judicial process involved in the sacrifice of the Son of God. Even as we grasp lightly the incredible complexities of the ongoing political debate so too does the world fail to fully comprehend the far greater trials leading to the great sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb - Jesus Christ.

Yet from the very beginning, when God the Father sacrificed animal life to provide a covering for Adam and Eve - through the disputation between Cain and Able in ordering a right sacrifice - we learn that blood must be shed for the reality of sin - so that the Old Covenant saints are covered by that symbolic blood until in the fullness of time, the pure and true Lamb of God could take away the sins of the world in His own sacrifice.

Second we must learn from the sacrificial system concerns the merit of Christ. Now, let me be careful with that word "merit". The Oxford American Dictionary defines it as: "the quality of deserving to be praised, excellence." Some scholars object to the doctrine of the sinlessness of Jesus. However, as we understand from the Old Covenant regulations "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year."

Here we see the necessity of the doctrine, otherwise the true Lamb of God could not atone! The Geneva Study Bible observes "The New Testament teaches that Jesus was entirely free from sin. This assertion means not only that He never disobeyed His Father, but that He loved God's law and found whole-hearted joy in keeping it. ... Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was 'in all points tempted as we are,' though without sinning. 1 Peter 1: 19 concludes that He was 'a lamb without blemish and without spot,' able to offer His 'precious' blood for us."

Professor Stibbs comments further: "not only is the idea of redemption introduced, but there is also mention of the ransom price. This corresponds to our Lord's own declaration of the purpose of His mission - 'to give His life a ransom for many.' What needs explicit recognition is the outstanding character of this price. For it was not anything connected with this transient, corruptible world, such as silver or gold, but the infinitely precious or 'highly valued' blood of Christ., who, like a flawless and spotless lamb, was offered in sacrifice."

Third, we must understand the legal necessities behind this sacrifice. The Creator God who is holy, love and light cannot abhor any sin. To stand before Him, the creature must either be sinless or be covered by the sacrificial blood of Christ who died in our place to cover over our manifold sins. In the covenantal relationships which the Lord has established from the dawn of time, those who accept the covenant must either establish the propriety of their own merit or failing that, accept the greater merit of the very Son of God who died on behalf of every covenant breaker whom the Lord would save in spite of their failings. Within the Lord's economy - he accepted the animal sacrificial system as symbolic of the higher calling of Jesus the Christ. Since His coming and sacrifice one for all, the animal sacrifices are no longer necessary.

Fourth, we must learn to personally count the cost for our salvation. Professor Stibbs shares with us "It is significant that Jesus and His death are ... interpreted in terms fully understandable only by those who know the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus is to be recognized as fulfilling the office of Messiah; and His death is to be regarded as sacrificial and substitutionally, and so redemptive - the death of the sinless for the benefit and release of the sin-bound. It is this recognition of what redemption has cost, which puts those who share in it under added obligation to order their lives in correspondingly worthy manner."

Finally, as we conclude our meditation together this morning, let us turn to Peter's first letter, the first chapter verses thirteen through twenty-one where our thoughts are better outlined by the revelation of the Spirit.

1 Peter 1: 13-21 "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; bus as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

As we ponder the admonition of the Apostle here, I am reminded of a book I recently purchased. It was an Eerdman's Bible Dictionary. The name is a familiar, traditional evangelical one in Bible helps and literature, and so on the strength of that, I ordered an expensive copy. However, when I turned to read its survey of the "virgin birth" and the book of "Isaiah", I became very unhappy with my investment. How thoroughly modernistic has the old reputable name become.

In the same way, we have to remember that whenever and wherever we carry the Name of Christ, the world will little realize that the natural flaws we display are still covered over by the blood of Him whom we represent. Therefore, it is with fear and trembling that we should count the cost of our salvation and so order our lives to better display the divine investment on our behalf which was freely given without any merit of our own being evident. So for this last Advent of the century and the millennium, let us faithfully admit that the Lamb of God came down from heaven, even as the Lord proposed and providentially arranged for our personal benefit. Specifically - we all who once were lost, have now been found in Him by the Spirit through the Father's love and purpose. Count the cost and not only understand but believe that your redemption and salvation is the most expensive gift you will ever ever receive! And in that spirit be certain to worship the Lamb of God this season and for always. Amen.

Resources Used:

The Geneva Study Bible: The Holy Bible: New King James Version.

Copyright (C) 2000 Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America)

10 December 2000 Box 13926 - Columbus, Ohio 43213-8049 m4syth@tulip.org

• Amen.

  Resources Used:

  Bervan, D. "The Lamb of God", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia.

  Cole, R. Alan Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Exodus.

  Pringle, William. Calvin's New Testament Commentaries: Harmony of the Gospel.

  Stibbs, Alan M. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: 1st Peter.

   

                 
  Places Preached:
       Christ Covenant REFORMED  (Presbyterian Church in America)
                                 Box PO Box 13926 -- Columbus, OH  43213
                                              02 December 2000
                                 tlg02

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