The Sacrificial Lamb

 1 Peter  3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit,

The observance of the death of Christ is recognized today, Friday, the end of Passion Week. As Christians, we celebrate this special day with thanksgiving that Jesus came to earth to die for our sins, renting the veil of the temple in half, giving us access to God, closing the chasm between man and God.  The week follows the Jewish Passover, which changes from year to year depending on the full moon after the spring equinox. The Passover occurred when the death angel came and killed all the firstborn in Egypt. The Jews were spared this death if their house had the shed blood of the lamb stricken over the door post of their home. The blood, signifying Jesus’ blood that was shed on Friday of Holy Week, covers our sin and the penalty for sin that we owe. He paid the debt that we could not pay. He was the sacrificial lamb who took on the wages of sin for you and me. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is life eternal because He died on the cross and became the substitutionary lamb of God.  It would appear to be a sad day for those who followed Him, grieved that their Messiah was being nailed to a cross between two thieves. But Christ, who willingly gave His life, said, “It is finished.” The songwriter pens, “It is finished, the battle is over, it is finished, there'll be no more war, it is finished, the end of the conflict, it is finished and Jesus is Lord.” The victory has been won. The good news is that Good Friday is God’s gift to us, and Sunday is coming!

A New Commandment

 John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you: that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Making His way to the last supper, Jesus had a basin of water ready. He took the basin and went to each of his disciples and started to wash their feet. The Master and Lord of all, the Creator of man, was on His hands and knees at the feet of His followers washing their feet. Peter was horrified that someone as honorable and great as Jesus would stoop down to be a servant and do what the work of the lower class of people in society normally did. I can imagine Peter’s thinking, “Hold on Jesus, this is beneath your dignity, you are the Messiah, the Son of God, I should be washing your feet.” Jesus, who loved His disciples, rebuked Peter, and explained to Peter why it was important that He wash their feet. The washing of feet is not given as a commandment from Jesus, it was done to demonstrate what it looks like to serve and love others. The commandment that Jesus gave was that the disciples were to have a servant’s heart, and love one another. Jesus demonstrated His love for them by washing their feet. To love as Jesus loved is an act of the will, and not a feeling or emotion. Showing love is not always preceded by a feeling and a desire to act. It is motivated by the knowledge that it is the right thing to do. It is the Love of Christ that controls our actions and the things we do. His love that dwells in our heart sets in motion how to act and love in a way that pleases Him. Real love that comes from God is not pretentious, or done grudgingly, it is made possible because the Holy Spirit dwells in our heart, and His Spirit compels us to love.

The Passover

Exodus 12: 1-14

Special Day

• Days to Celebrate- Spiritual celebrations
• Abib-the corn appears- Fruit of God’s Deliverance

Selection of the Lamb

• One lamb per household of at least 10 people
• Without Blemish- Perfect- no defects or deformities
• Male and Firstborn- firstborn of the begotten
• Innocent and faultless

Slaughter of the Lamb

• No bone are broken
• The Blood is the life- Christ gave His life

Sprinkling of the Blood

• The blood is applied to the door- Under the blood

Serving of the Lamb

• Eating of the flesh- partaker of His flesh- symbolic
• Food to strengthen for the travel ahead- Need his strength
• Roasting the lamb- Symbolic of suffering- born not broken
• Unleavened bread- separation from sin- particular people
• Bitter herbs- remind them of the bitterness of sin
• Eat with lions gridded about- Prepare for service and journey

Smiting of the Firstborn

• God ordained
• Stand still and see God work- Let God be God
• God will have the last word-
• Intolerance of other Gods- He alone is God, There is no other

Saved by the Blood of the Lamb

• The blood of Christ is applied to the door post of our hearts
• It was the blood that saved the Hebrew- It is the blood that will save us.
• Man is lost in sin and the blood must be applied for redemption
• Christ our Passover- making atonement for our sins
• Calvary is the turning point for new life.
• It was at Calvary where I found forgiveness and purpose in life

Hezekiah's Great Passover

2 Chronicles 30-1-13

Review: Israel had reached the end of God’s tolerance and mercy. It was time that sin be reckoned with. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that will he reap.” Israel had refused to listen to the preaching of God’s men. They were given every opportunity to turn to God. But they refused to heed God’s warning. Sin that has not been confessed will be dealt with. God will not let sin go unchecked. God is faithful, and if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive. If confession is not made, the wages of sin is death. The judgments of God are sure.

Rise of a Godly King
1. Influence of a Godly maternal grandfather- zacharias- priest
2. Following after God and His instructions

Revival in the Land
1. He saw that things were not right
2. Revival of compliancy
3. Revival of the backslider- Return to the God of your fathers

Return to Worship
1. The invitation- called to worship
2. True worship start in the heart of God’s people
3. Ordaining of God’s house- A place to worship

Render to God your Heart
1. Yield to God your life
2. God will show mercy- His judgment will be deferred
3. Your decision to serve him will yield benefits
4. God will not turn away a penitent heart

Refusal of the Invitation
1. Not all will heed the call- but the invitation was given
2. Expect to be rejected- They are rejecting God, not you

Restoration of God’s People
1. May require us to destroy sacred shrine- the bronze serpent
2. Removal of all that is contrary to God’s holiness