The Final Passover Lamb .... and The Lamb of God

            On the day that Jesus suffered and shed His blood enduring the cross, where He died for the sin of mankind,
                     that was the last time that God ever looked at the Jewish sacrifice of a lamb.
God had given His only Son ~ the Lamb of God ~ as our Passover Lamb.

Jesus bore the penalty that you and I ought to bear.

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement
of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all."
Isaiah 53:;5-6

"..... For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed." I Cor. 5:7 NIV

I believe everyone is familiar with the Jewish Passover. Exodus 12:2-11 details how each household selected a lamb
without blemish, a male of the first year, which was sacrificed. On the first Passover, the avenging angel of God
killed every first-born male throughout the land, but passed over the homes that protected themselves
by placing the blood of a lamb on the two doorposts and lintels of their house. God instituted the Passover
as a remembrance of His deliverance of His people Israel from their bondage in Egypt.

Later, when Israel had a Temple in Jerusalem, in addition to the lamb for each household, a lamb was chosen to die
for the sins of the entire nation. On the 10th of Nisan, the lamb was led in a huge procession to the Temple.
During the procession, the people waved Palm branches and sang Psalms.
This was 4 days before the sacrifice ~ the Passover celebration.

Also on the 10th of Nisan, about 4 days before the crucifixion, Jesus rode in triumph through the streets
of Jerusalem to the Temple where the people waved Palm branches and shouted, "... Hosanna to
the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." Matt. 21:9

The little lamb was set apart during those 4 days so that it might be closely scrutinized to see that it was perfect
with no blemish at all. It was subjected to constant inspection. The lamb was separated from the others
of the flock and bleated more than ever.

Likewise, Jesus was openly set apart during those 4 days as being distinct from mankind. During those 4 days,
as much is recorded of what He did and said as through all the earlier part of His life. As the lamb bleated
more during his separation, so Jesus spoke more as is recorded in God's Word.

Just as the Passover lamb was examined for 4 days prior to Passover, so Jesus entered the Temple
and was examined for 4 days prior to Passover. He was examined by all classes and grades ~
Herodians, Pharisees, Sadducces, lawyers and the common people.

The lamb was in its prime; its strength unexhausted. Likewise Jesus was in His prime, strong, a young man.
He did not die from weakness, even though His body may have been emaciated from torture.

As the lamb was examined and found to be without blemish, so Jesus came forth as the immaculate Lamb.
The officers said, "never man spake like This Man." His foes found none who could even bear false witness
against Him. Pilate declared, "I find no fault in Him."

The lamb was to be roasted with no bones broken. Also, Jesus, on the cross, was "roasted"
in the broiling sun; no bones were broken.

Jesus was prepared for sacrifice and beaten on the morning of Passover, just as the lamb
to be sacrificed in the Temple was being prepared.

The place for the crucifixion had to be at Jerusalem to fulfill His destiny.
The Temple and Calvary are very close together.
The infuriated throng dragged Him along the City to the place, the precise spot,
where God had ordained that he would be nailed to the cross.

When Jesus was taken to the cross, it was 9 o'clock in the morning; at the same time,
in the Temple, the Levites were sharpening their knives and getting everything ready
for the sacrifice of the lambs that was to occur at 3 o'clock that afternoon.

Jesus was slain at the same time that the unblemished lamb was sacrificed on Passover. It was required
to be "between the evenings," ~ the ninth hour, based on the manner by which the Temple priests calculated time.
Both refer to the same time ~ 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

Jesus was on the cross; at noon a great darkness fell over the whole land. In that inky darkness,
Jesus endured the cross. At 3 o'clock, over in the Temple, the wild-eyed little lambs
were being slain. At 3 o'clock, at the same moment, outside the city, Jesus gave a loud cry
and shouted, "It is finished," and He died.

That cry of Jesus, "It is finished," echoed around the valleys of Jerusalem. It was a cry that was known to
every Roman soldier that heard it. It was the cry of a Roman general who shouted it when he saw that
the battle was already won. And Jesus gave that very same cry, "It is finished." He was strong,
and He shouted so loudly that everybody heard it.

Every Roman soldier must have looked up and recognized it as the battle cry that says, "We've won."
And yet, the Person Who shouted it was dying on the cross; to them it made no sense.
What was finished? What had been won?

Jesus had finished the work forever.

He became our Passover Lamb. He died for the sin of the world.

We are free. Jesus shouted it.
It is finished !!

".... Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor,
and glory, and blessing. .... Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."