How the First Passover Perfectly Pictured Yeshua the Messiah

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah, for it is the power of Elohim to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Rom 1:16)

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved [except the name of Yeshua the Messiah]. (Acts 4:12)

According to the laws of statistical probability, what are the chances of an event happening and then fifteen hundred years later another event occurring bearing an uncanny resemblance to the first one? Now suppose that not only did fifteen hundred years separate the two events, but that they occurred in two different countries several hundred miles apart, which in the ancient world considering the difficulties of travel and communications may as well have been halfway around the globe. Now suppose that the second event involved the death of a person, and that the events leading up to their death including the manner and timing of that death was beyond the control of the individual dying so that in no way could the person dying stage his death to mirror the first event. In fact, those killing the individual possessed no foreknowledge of the event that had occurred fifteen hundred years earlier. What are the chances of this occurring? Well beyond the laws of possibility!

This is not a fictional story! Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. The details of these two events are chronicled in the pages of the Bible. The first event occurred in ancient Egypt and is recorded in the Book of Exodus chapters eleven and twelve. There we find recorded the details of the children of Israel’s first Passover while they were yet slaves in the land of Egypt. A whole series of events led up to this first Passover, which culminated with each family’s ritual killing of a lamb, smearing its blood on the frame of their doors, roasting the lamb, and then eating it. Doing this insured that YHVH would pass over their homes leaving those inside alive. The firstborn of those whose homes did not have the blood on them were killed.

The second event involved a descendant of those ancient people who was born in a different land fifteen hundred years later. His name was Yeshua of Nazareth, a Jew, and viewed by many of his day as the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. One of the proofs of his Messiahship would be whether he would fulfill the many prophecies that had been foretold concerning him as recorded in the Tanakh (Old Testament) in the Bible. Not only that, the Jewish sages had predicted that many historical occurrences in Israel’s long history were but foreshadows of events to occur in the future. Israel’s first Passover was somehow to replay itself in the death of that prophesied Messianic figure who was to arrive sometime on the scene near the beginning of the fourth millennia from the creation of the world. Was this Yeshua of Nazareth to be that person who would fulfill those Messianic and redemptive expectations of the Israelite people from ancient times?

Let us now compare the historical facts of the first Passover in Exodus with those events surrounding the death of Yeshua of Nazareth on the cross by the hands of the Romans. In the following study, we’ll juxtapose the details of the first Passover with the events leading up to and including the death of Yeshua to see how Yeshua supernaturally and amazingly fulfilled, in fine detail, that which was prophesied to happen to him 1,500 years earlier. In this way, you can see for yourself this amazing story of the Bible unfold before your eyes. If you already have a faith in Yeshua the Messiah and Redeemer of the world, then let that faith be strengthened. If not, then consider the truth of the Bible and its divinely inspired message and whether you will believe it to be the Word of Elohim.

YHVH’s judgment comes upon the Egyptians at midnight because of their sins (Exod 11:4; 12:29).

Judgment was pronounced upon Yeshua late at night (after the Passover seder) in the Garden of Gethsemane where he was betrayed and arrested, and later during his trial (Luke 22:53, 66–71; 23:1–25). Though he was sinless, he carried the sins of mankind upon himself (2 Cor 5:21; Isa 53:6).

The first born had to die at the hand of YHVH as a judgment against sin (Exod 11:5).

Yeshua was the firstborn of Elohim and the first man born of the Ruach haKodesh (Set-Apart Spirit), and was the firstborn of Mary. At the first Passover, the firstborn of each family was to be the head, priest and patriarch of his household and was to lead his family in obedience to YHVH. If he failed to do so, then had to bear the judgment meted out by YHVH. Likewise, Yeshua bore the judgment because of our sins (our failure to obey YHVH’s word), which is death (Rom 6:23; 1 Cor 15:56).

A perfect, blemish-free lamb was to be chosen for the Passover lamb (Exod 12:5; Deut 15:21).

  • Yeshua in, accordance with the Torah-law, was selected four days before Passover and anointed (or set apart) as the Lamb of Elohim at the erev Shabbat dinner in Bethany, which occurred on the tenth day of the first month after having arrived in Bethany four days before the Passover (John 12:1–3). For an explanation of the timing of this event, see our chart of the timeline of the Passover at http://hoshanarabbah.org/passover_week_timeline.html.
  • The people of Israel examined and accepted Yeshua at his triumphal entry in Jerusalem (John 12:12).
  • The religious system examined and rejected Yeshua (Matt 26:27–67) because he was a threat to their religious establishment.
  • Judas, one of Yeshua’s closest associates, declared him innocent (Matt 27:3–4).
  • Pilate’s wife declared Yeshua to be innocent (Matt 27:19).
  • The political system through Pilate declared Yeshua to be innocent (Matt 27:23–24).
  • Elohim, the Father of Yeshua, pronounced him guiltless and without sin (Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 1:19).

This perfect lamb was marked for death and was set aside for a special purpose (Exod 12:3–6).

  • Yeshua was such a lamb (Isa 53:7; 1 Pet 1:19–20).

The lamb was to be a year old; that is, a mature adult (Exod 12:5).

  • Yeshua died for our redemption in the fullness of his manhood.

The lamb was separated out on the tenth day of the first month (the Passover was on the fourteenth day of the first month, Exod 12:3).

  • On the same day Yeshua came to Bethany (John 12:1) where on the evening of the tenth day of the month Mary anointed Yeshua with spikenard (John 12:2–37), the very day the Passover lamb was to be separated.

The lamb was to dwell with the Israelites in the family’s house until the Passover day when the lamb was then slaughtered (Exod 12:5–6).

  • Yeshua dwelt with the Jews during this time, including having a meal in Bethany, making his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, turning over the money changer’s tables at the temple, and enduring his trial.
  • Yeshua, our Passover Lamb, wants to dwell in the spiritual house of our lives.

The blood from the lamb was to be painted on the door posts and lintels of each family’s house (Exod 12: 22–23).

  • Messiah’s blood (or mark) must be placed on our foreheads (representing our thoughts) and hands (representing our actions) for us to be redeemed from the penalty of sin and to protect us from Elohim’s judgment against sin (Rev 7:3; 9:4; 22:4; Exod 3:9, 16; Deut 6:8; 11:18).

In order for one to be saved from YHVH’s judgment on Passover eve, one had to enter the blood-painted door and be inside the house (Exod 12:22).

  • Yeshua is the spiritual door to salvation and the way to the Father in heaven. No one can be saved without coming through his blood for the remission of sins. There is salvation through no other “door” but Yeshua (John 10:9; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rev 1:5; Heb 9:22; 1 John 1:7).

Hyssop was used to paint the blood onto the door posts (Exod 12:22).

  • Yeshua was given sour wine (a figurative symbol of blood) on hyssop while hanging on the cross (John 19:29). Hyssop was an aromatic “paint brush”-like herb. It was used in purification ceremonies in the tabernacle (Lev 14:4, 6, 51–52) and was used as a poetic metaphor of inner cleansing in Psalms 51:7. Blood can symbolize many things, yet, when add to it hyssop, its cleansing powers from the stain and condemnation of sin and death are emphasized.

Later in Israel’s history, the Passover lamb was taken to the tabernacle (and later to the temple in Jerusalem) to be sacrificed.

  • Yeshua was condemned to die by the Jewish priests in the temple in Jerusalem.

The lamb was roasted by fire (Exod 12:8–9).

  • Fire is a biblical metaphor for judgment. Yeshua suffered the fire of his Heavenly Father’s wrath and judgment against man’s sins (Matt 27:46; 2 Cor 5:21). What’s more, while a person was dying a slow and agonizing death on the cross, it would feel like he was on fire as his body was burning up with thirst in the hot sun.

No bones of the lamb were broken, or else it would not have been blemish-free (Exod 12:46).

  • No bones of Yeshua were broken while hanging on the cross, although it was customary for the Romans to break the legs of the crucified to expedite the victim’s death (John 19:31–33).

Each Israelite was commanded to take a lamb and eat of it (Exod 12:3).

  • Salvation is an individual matter. Each person must partake of the Lamb of YHVH individually. This is symbolized by each person taking communion (the bread and wine—a symbolic representation of the Passover meal), which is traditionally done during the third cup of wine during the Passover seder.

Later, according to Jewish religious rules, the Passover lamb was roasted whole over an open fire spit with a pomegranate skewer running through in its mouth and out its vent (like a rotisserie, see The Temple: Its Ministry and Service, p. 182, by Alfred Edersheim, Hedrickson, 1978).

  • Yeshua was “impaled” on a wooden cross—whole, and suffered the “flames” of Elohim’s judgment against sin.

The Passover lamb’s blood was placed on the lintel and door posts of the Israelite’s doors.

  • Yeshua was pierced in the hands and head (as well as his back and side) and bled therefrom. The blood on the door was a perfect outline of the blood on Messiah’s body while he was hanging on the cross.

The Passover lamb was killed about 3 PM in the afternoon. This was the same time the priests would offer up the afternoon (or evening) daily sacrifice in the temple, and the same time that they offered up the Passover lamb for the nation of Israel.

  • Yeshua died on the cross at the ninth hour, or 3 PM in the afternoon (Matt 27:46–50).

You be the judge. If you see a pattern here that is outside the realm of natural possibility, then it might be wise to consider the Bible to be truly the inspired word of Elohim, and that Yeshua was indeed the long-awaited Messiah and the Redeemer, the Lamb of Elohim who sent Yeshua his Son to take away the sins of man. The message here is that it’s the blood of Yesua, when applied to the spiritual door frame (or your thoughts and actions) of your life, that will cause YHVH’s judgment against you because of your sins to pass over you. 

By placing your faith in Yeshua, the Lamb of Elohim, you will thus be spared from the consequences of your sin, which is death (Rom 6:23). Believe that he died to pay the price for your sins through his shed blood, and that he died in your place so that you would not have to die (Rom 10:9–13). Repent now of your sins (breaking Elohim’s commandments as revealed in his law), and resolve to never sin again (1 John 1:9). Then ask Yeshua to take up spiritual residence within your mind and heart by his Set-Apart Spirit, and ask him to become the Master (Lord) of your life. Let him supernaturally transform your life from the inside out (John 3:15–18; 5:24). Now by his divine grace and empowerment walk with him, obey his word (the Bible) as Yeshua leads you into eternal life!

 

6 thoughts on “How the First Passover Perfectly Pictured Yeshua the Messiah

  1. Very nice. Could it be said that anyone who entered through the marked door posts would be saved from Gods wrath? The same way we enter into Jesus at the cross?

  2. Early in my awakenig a Hebrew roots teacher shared that the blood of the lamb painted on the sides and top of door formed the Hebrew sign for life Sorry I dont know how to draw it on my cellphone.

    |_|

    (turn that shape over and it reflects the shape of door frame ) and is Life in Hebrew

    I thought this was very profound

  3. Natan
    I want to thank you for being there for me Shabbat after Shabbat and reading your uplifting blog week after week but this Passover is different from all other Passover’s after reading this blog about the comparison between Yeshua and the children of Israel 1500 years earlier under the tutleag of Moses.
    Long story short last night while taking a shower someone left the shower nozzle on and when I turned on the water I immediately got blasted with freezing cold water and let out a bunch of four letter words.After the shower I brought out my Bible and started reading in it and my wife said you hypocrite.After saying those nasty words then reading your Bible that’s not right. She was right I immediately put the good book down feeling very ashamed.I also might add that I am recently married.
    Fast forward to this morning I read your blog and did what was suggested at the end of the article.I had to get right with Yeshua.I went into my closet and got it right just Yeshua and I.
    One of the hardest parts about being in fellowship with others in the Messianic faith is continuing in the habits of the old man you thought you used to be. I need prayers I grew up in one of the most rundown cities in Massachusetts where foul expletives flew constantly and the habit show’s up under strife and I hate it.

    • We all struggle and stumble along the way. What matters is that we get up, repent and go forward—onward an upward. David was a man after YHVH’s heart not because he didn’t sin, but because when he did, he repented and learned from is mistakes. Though he sinned, his heart was inclined to serve and obey YHVH.

      It’s hard to illustrate it here, but our spiritual walk looks is an upward zigzag path with two zags for very zigs. We’re climbing higher, slipping back a little, then going higher still, then slipping back a little and so (two steps forward and one step backwards, two steps forward, and so on).

      Onward and upward bro! We’re all in the same boat, Yeshua is always there to give us a hand up. HalleluYah!

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