As we approach God's Passover each year, it is beneficial to review Israel's first Passover, where we see very meaningful lessons for us.
Without Blemish: The Israelites had to choose a lamb without blemish, meaning without spot, undefiled and perfect (Exodus 12:5). This lamb represented the future sacrifice of Christ, who was perfect, without spot or blemish, particularly in the spiritual sense. Thus He was a perfect sacrifice for mankind's sins.
This is made clear in 1 Peter 1:18-19: "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."
The male lamb also had to be in his first year. This is the lamb's prime time of life. We see that Christ Himself died at age 33 in His prime—an innocent sacrifice given at a time when human life is at its best.
Not Trampled Underfoot: The blood of the lamb then had to be applied strictly and carefully to both sides of the door frame and the upper crossbeam (Exodus 12:7). The Israelites of the Exodus did not apply the blood to the bottom of the doorway.
The blood symbolized the blood of Jesus Christ and they could not "trample" over it. This is emphasized on a spiritual plane in Hebrews 10: 28-29: "Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot...?"
Within the House: Israel had to eat the lamb within their homes, with the blood applied to their doorways. In the home, they were protected from death.
Likewise, those within the House of God—His Temple and His Church, which includes all who have the Holy Spirit—will be protected from the second death. If we continue in the faith and are led by the Holy Spirit, then Christ's sacrifice will enable us to receive the gift of everlasting life.
Roasted, With Unleavened Bread and Bitter Herbs: They could eat the lamb only after it was roasted by fire, accompanied by unleavened bread and bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8).
The roasting by fire symbolized Christ giving all of Himself for man.
It was eaten with unleavened bread because Christ was perfect and sinless; thus the bread had to be unleavened (symbolically without sin).
The bitter herbs reminded Israel how they suffered in slavery in Egypt . Their bondage was indeed bitter, but it also pointed to the "bondage of sin," which they were leaving and which we came out of and are to stay out of.
A Total Sacrifice: The "roasting with fire" pertained to all parts of the lamb—internal organs, bowels—all (Exodus 12:9). This pictured the total and complete sacrifice of Christ.
The lamb was to be completely consumed. Any uneaten part was totally burnt with fire. No part of the lamb could thus be subject to decay or corruption, just as Christ's body was not to be corrupted (Acts 13:36-37).
Prepared to Leave: The Israelites had to be fully prepared to leave Egypt and the only world they had known (Exodus 12:11). They would now have to look to God and live by His laws and not look back at Egypt. For us, the meaning is clear—come out of this world and never look back.
That first Passover contains powerful lessons for us. Today, the symbols of Passover are changed, but the lessons of the first Passover give us greater meaning and appreciation of the greatness of Christ's sacrifice for us, as well as for many billions who never knew Him and will not until the Millennium and Last Great Day are fulfilled.
These are symbolic lessons for what God still requires of His people today. God truly is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
