Christ, My Passover

Happy Sabbath! What beautiful special music! Thank you, Mr. Hildjian. Wonderful. Really appreciate that. What a fantastic reminder. We are never alone. And what a blessing it is to have the great God that we do. It is good to be here. It's good to see all of you. I haven't had a chance to meet everyone. I know we're touching base with old friends and comparing notes to when we saw each other last. And what feast was that? Where? And so it is good to get back together again after many years. Others of you, I haven't met yet. I look forward to meeting the rest of you after services. I met a couple of people I hadn't met before before services. And it's always kind of fun when you meet new people. You might think, well, when I meet someone new, do you know what the most common comment I guess you could say that people will normally say to me? They won't say, wow, you are just amazing on television. They don't usually say, your sermons are just so inspiring. They're just awesome. You know what the number one comment is? You're a lot shorter than I thought you would be. So someone said that earlier today, and then I was reassured because someone standing next to them said, wait a second, he's not that short. I think that was sort of a compliment that it wasn't that short. So you never know when you meet someone new, okay, I'm short. That's just what it is. So that's all right. But we certainly are looking forward to the presentations that are happening tomorrow. We look forward, hopefully, that you'll be there. Some of your friends and co-workers and others that have been invited certainly pray that they will come and look forward to the presentations tomorrow. I know it's always a challenge when you travel. You know, you get back home and oftentimes there's an expectation that you bring a gift, perhaps, back for the family or for your wife. I did hear a story one time about a fellow who really needed to do it. He'd been gone from the family for a while and he decided, I've got to bring my wife something back. And so he stopped at one of these department stores before leaving intending to do just that. So he went up to one of the department store counters and he said, you know, I need to bring something nice for my wife. So the lady went back behind the counter and she brought out a beautiful bottle of perfume. She said, oh, your wife will love this. And it's only $150. He went, well, have you got anything that isn't quite that much? So the lady went back behind the counter again. She brought out a little smaller bottle. And she said, wow, that's really nice. How much is that one? She said, well, this one is only $75. He said, oh, boy, that's that's you have anything less. So she goes back behind the counter, brings out this tiny little bottle. And he started to smile. He felt good about that. He said, how much is that one? She said, $30. He said, oh, boy, you know, I got to be honest with you. He said, I would like to see something really cheap. So she went back behind the counter. She brought out a mirror.

Now, the reason I tell that bad joke is God has given us an amazing gift. And it's not a cheap one either. If you had to identify what is God's greatest gift, what would come to your mind?

God's greatest gift. Well, I think it is intricately tied around the verse that we find in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7. 1 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7. You may even know it by heart. It's a short little passage that says, for indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. I think God's greatest gift is the fact that He made a way for us to be given eternal life through our Savior, Jesus Christ. He Himself has said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me. Think about this amazing gift that God has given. Here we are in the springtime of the year. It's even getting little spring showers so that May flowers may come. And we can't help but think about the gift of the Passover Lamb that God made a way for us. And He said He is the way. He is truth. He is our only means for real life, for eternal life.

And as we approach this time of the year, we need to be thinking, well, it's not just the fact that Christ is our Passover, but what does He mean to me? What does He mean to me personally? Have you contemplated that? Because it's critical as we consider the Passover, as we consider our Savior Jesus Christ. Who is He? Who was He? What has He done for me? And if you were to begin to go through the Bible and add up all the different attributes that are listed about Jesus Christ, it would take you a while.

There are probably, depending on what version of the Bible you use, over 200 attributes that are listed throughout Scripture about our Savior. And as we approach this time of the year, what is your focus? What is your focus at this time of the year? There's an amazing passage that helps us zero in on the focus, and it's over in the book of Romans. It may not be a particular passage you think of in terms of the Passover, but I think there is an amazing connection here between the focus of this time of the year and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Let's notice it. Romans 10. Look at verse 4. Sometimes people take this passage, and they love to take it out of context. It can be a little disconcerting if you do this, because some people try to get this passage to say something it doesn't say at all. So take a look at Romans 10. Notice verse 4. It says, And so those who want to do away with God's law and try to make the issue, you don't have to keep that Sabbath.

You don't have to worry about God's law anymore. Sometimes there's zero in on Romans 10. They'll take it out of context and try to get it to say, See? You don't have to worry about tithing. You don't have to worry about Sabbath observance. You don't have to worry about any of those things, because Christ put an end to all of that. And they'll point to this particular verse to do just that.

But wait a second. If we step back for just a moment and recognize what Paul is really speaking about here, we can't help but separate this verse from the way that they interpret it and connect it to the importance of Passover and its focus. Because here Paul says, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. If you were to look this up in a Greek word book with asaurus, you would find this word for end is the Greek word, tellos. Christ is the tellos of the law. That word can sometimes be connected to the terminal or the terminus of the law.

Or you could say the goal of the law. The goal of the law, because if you take the train, that train goes all the way to the terminal or the terminus where the train tracks end. And Christ is that goal of the law. He's the end of the law. In other words, He's what the law is aiming at.

Christ is the aim of the law. And so when we look at this particular verse, it's not saying law is over with, it's done, it's complete. It's not saying that. It's pointing to the fact that everything in God's purpose, in His plan, the end, the goal, the aim, is Jesus Christ. When we think about Passover, the aim of the law is Jesus Christ. And when you think about it in that particular context, well, that's exactly what we're supposed to be doing. We should be focusing on the fact that our goal, our aim, our purpose is to strive for the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

That's Ephesians 4.13. That's our goal. That's our aim. It's not talking about the law being done away. It's showing where the law leads, where it points, where it's focused. And when we recognize Jesus Christ perfectly exemplified God's desires in everything that He did, in the way He lived His life, and He personified perfection, He personified love, He personified God's way, His truth, His government. And it's through His sacrifice that we can be declared righteous.

We can be right in God's eyes. We can be justified. We can have our sins forgiven. We can be acquitted of sin. And when you recognize the focus of Passover and you study the attributes of Jesus Christ, it points to this very fact.

He is the telos. He is that aim and that goal for each of us. Yes, He's Creator. He's the one who created all things through the Father, created all things through Jesus Christ. He is the one who came to reveal the Father. He is the head of the church.

He is the conqueror. He is our elder brother. And He is, in short, everything. He's everything that we are not. And yet He's everything that we are striving to become. And it's certainly a reminder that it's through Him, because without Him, He tells us we can do nothing. Without Him, we can do nothing. That's John 15.5. And so He becomes our focus. And not just at this time of the year, but He should be our focus our entire life.

Our entire life. And as we prepare for the time that lies just ahead, and oftentimes we think of Passover in that way, Passover, the Passover preparation. Well, let's think about that for just a moment. As we prepare for Passover, what about Passover preparation? Of course, in one way, Passover itself is a preparation, because every holy day requires some preparation. But this particular day, this particular, even though it's not a holy day, Passover is a time that demands the most significant of personal preparations.

So personally, we prepare. And it prepares us, in a sense, for the rest of God's plan. It's the beginning. That we have a sacrifice for sin. And that beginning then prepares us for the rest of God's plan that is outlined through the rest of the holy days. Now, we see a little bit of this in a familiar passage over in 1 Corinthians 11. If you want to turn with me there, 1 Corinthians 11.

Let's begin in verse 24. Because as we consider this focus and the preparation involved, here Paul certainly had this on his mind as he wrote to the church in Corinth. And in Corinth, Paul described the brethren there as rushing through the service. He talked about the fact they were focused not on what was most important, not on what was necessary, but they focused on themselves.

And they treated each other terribly. And they had a disregard for each other. And in the book of 1 Corinthians, he gives some very specific instructions to help them to refocus and prepare properly for the Passover. And in 1 Corinthians 11, notice verse 24. Paul says, when he had given thanks, talking about Jesus Christ, he broke bread and said, Take, eat. This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same manner, he also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood.

This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

And so as Paul summarizes what Christ did at that first Passover, that Passover that he longed to eat with the disciples, where he showed the symbols of his body and his blood as he showed the bread and the wine. Paul recounts that story, and he reminds the brethren, he says, Listen, the Passover is not just to remember certain historical events. That's not what the focus of the Passover is. He points out the fact we need to grasp the point of Christ's death. We need to recognize the purpose of that death. And if we fail to recognize the meaning, then we have a tendency to disregard and dishonor and disrespect that death that was on our mind. And so Paul brought that to their attention. He wanted them to recognize the fact that this cup was symbolic of Jesus' blood. He wanted them to realize he sacrificed his life. His blood was spilled for us. That it's by the blood of Jesus Christ that this agreement that we've made with God is, in a sense, sealed. And Christ's blood certifies the agreement that that blood, through our faith in that sacrifice, can be applied to us so that we don't have to die. That Christ's death, then, was on our behalf. And so he says that death has to be properly remembered. He says without it, well, what happened at Corinth? Well, it became more like a party. They were eating, they were drinking, some were drunk, some were hungry, there was prejudice. This monumental sacrifice was dishonored, and it had become just a ritual. It had become just a habit to them, and it lost the significance.

And so Paul told them, he tells us, recognizing the sacrifice properly, it helps us. And in a sense, it determines the quality of our observance.

It helps us to recognize the importance of that, and taking it in a careless manner, an unappreciative manner, dishonors God, dishonors the sacrifice. And so Paul says, don't do that. That is taking the Passover unworthily. We must take it in a worthy manner, and we can do that, he says, by examining ourselves. Examining ourselves. Various translations translate it differently, not just to examine ourselves, but to test ourselves, to test ourselves, to prove ourselves. And this is an interesting word here for examine himself.

Examine yourself. It's the Greek word, dokimazo. A dokimazo yourself. Prove yourself. It can mean to scrutinize. Look carefully at yourself. And it's an interesting word because back in the day, this particular word had to do with banking. It had to do with the banking system. And of course, in the banking system of the day, there would be someone who became known as a dokimazo. He was a scrutinizer. He was one that would prove and test the coins of the day. Of course, if you put yourself back at that time, those coins were fairly soft. And people would scrape off the edges of those coins. And when they accumulated enough of the little shavings off of those coins, they could make their own coin.

And so what happened to the real thing was that it became less valued. It wasn't worth the full price anymore. And so a dokimazo would check those coins to make sure they weren't altered, to make sure they weren't shaved, to make sure they weren't counterfeit. They would make sure it was a full value.

It was the real deal. It was genuine. It wasn't a counterfeit. And so Paul didn't use that word accidentally here. I think he used it very specifically, that we are to look at ourselves, examine our own life, prove ourselves, test ourselves. Are we the real deal? Are we a counterfeit? Are we a fake? Are we semi-Christian, sort of Christian, almost Christian? Or are we truly full value? That's what Paul is asking here. If we're to take the Passover in a worthy manner, we look at our own lives and we scrutinize ourselves to determine whether we are genuine, just like a dokimazo of the day would do with the coins.

And he says, examine yourself. And he says, discern the Lord's body. Be sure you discern it. Be discriminating. To carefully look at and separate. You make a distinction. This isn't just a casual thing. This isn't just something we take for granted. We're talking about the only means for eternal life. The only way possible. The way, the truth, the life. This is the only way. And we better make that distinction and recognize that very fact.

And so he says, this is what we must do. And so we review ourselves. We look at ourselves. And we do it in a way like Paul says here. We look at our life. We look at ourselves. And we discern the Lord's body. In a way, he's getting at the fact we look at our life. We look at the perfect life of Jesus Christ. We contrast our spiritual life to that perfect life of Jesus Christ. And so this time of the year pushes us this direction to recognize the fact that Christ was sin-free.

But if we haven't studied his life, if we haven't looked through the Gospels and deeply examined the life of Jesus Christ, when we compare ourselves to that, what do we find? Well, if we don't know, we don't know. Do we really know how Christ lived his life? Do we really know how he applied the law of God in his life? Do we really recognize, well, in these situations, this is exactly what Christ did.

In those situations, here's what I do. And we see that difference. And as we consider these things, we recognize that deep discernment helps us to truly take the Passover in a worthy manner. And of course, recognizing our sin then is something that Paul says that should not keep you from taking the Passover. He says, no, that shouldn't stop you. He says, yes, scrutinize yourself.

Look at yourself. Are you counterfeit? Are you genuine? Do that. And then what does he say next? And so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. Recognizing our sin shouldn't keep us from taking the Passover. It should drive us to the Passover. We should gratefully appreciate what God has done for us, how he has given us a Savior. And we demonstrate our faith in that sacrifice and what pays the price for our sin. And it begins to change our outlook. It changes our perspective that the focus then of Passover is not on me.

It's not on my sin. It's something entirely different. The focus becomes the payment for sin. Because when we begin to examine this and examine ourselves, I need a solution because I am a sinner. The only solution there is Jesus Christ. And we concentrate on this most important element of our salvation. And so this purpose for examination, sometimes we get a little mixed up.

Sometimes, well, there can tend to be two examination problems, two challenges that we face. Sometimes we judge ourselves and we examine ourselves, and yet we do it comparing ourselves to others. Now, over in 2 Corinthians 10, verse 12, Paul talks about that examination process. Judging ourselves compared to others. 2 Corinthians 10, verse 12. Notice how Paul deals with this issue.

2 Corinthians 10, verse 12. Here's what Paul wrote to Corinth. He says, So that's one of these examination problems we could run into. And it focuses where? Where's the focus on this problem, on this kind of examination? Well, it's on ourselves. It's on ourselves. And we compare ourselves to somebody else.

Like, say, well, at least you're not that short. Well, at least I'm not that bad. I'm not as bad as they are. You see, and then what's the result of that kind of an examination? I mean, it's a fatal trap. Because then we self justify.

We justify ourselves. You know, I'm like that, but I could be a lot worse. At least I'm not like them. And so when we judge ourselves by ourselves, it's by whose standard? Well, see, we're not judging by God's standards. In this case, we're judging by our own standards, by our own selves. And if we judge by a selfish standard, that's going to only bring self-righteousness. It's not going to bring God's righteousness. It's not going to bring justification. It's not going to acquit us of sin. No, we're judging by the wrong standard. So Paul says, that's not the kind of examination we're to have. Now, over a couple of pages, he talks about another pitfall, 2 Corinthians 13, verse 5.

Just over a couple of pages, he talks about another examination problem here that's also centered on self. 2 Corinthians 13, 5. He says, Now, it may not be blatantly obvious here, but I think he's getting at another situation that can bring us into the other ditch on the other side of the street. You see, one is one that I judge by my own standards, and boy, I'm not that bad. I'm actually pretty good. Now, on the other side of the coin, we examine ourselves and we do it so harshly, and we are so critical on ourselves, we become discouraged. We're down. We feel like, how can I ever make it? There's just no way I can ever measure up.

And really, what this points to is that it is a selfish thing as well. I'm self-focused, and I become so self-focused that I miss the grace of God. I miss God's mercy. I miss His grace, and I can't get out of this hole that I'll never be good enough. And I feel that salvation is impossible. And in a way, aren't we almost saying, God, I don't know that you could actually forgive that much.

But see, whether it's one side or the other, God doesn't want us to focus in that way. He's telling us our focus should be the solution to these problems, should be the solution to sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And by God's grace, He is willing to forgive. He's willing to forgive our sins, our transgressions, because of the death of Jesus Christ. And by God's grace, we can be justified. When we go before God and we ask for forgiveness and we truly repent, what does God do? Well, He justifies us. He aligns us back up with Jesus Christ. He forgives us our sin. He acquits us. He brings us back into a right relationship with God. That's what justification is all about. Being forgiven of sin, being acquitted. It's not accounted as sin to us anymore because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And so we recognize that at Passover and we recognize God's given us the solution for sin. There is a way, and it's through that wonderful sacrifice, that amazingly valuable sacrifice that God has given for me. And for you. In fact, it's such a powerful, powerful sacrifice. Peter spoke about it in 1 Peter chapter 1.

1 Peter chapter 1 verse 18. No wonder Paul was so concerned about Corinth and how they approached the Passover and how they were so mistaken in the way that they were observing this most important occasion. Peter recognized the value of the sacrifice of Christ because there is no other way. There is no other way. And so we come before God recognizing this significance as well. 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 18. We'll kind of jump into the middle of the thought, but notice what Peter writes. He says, 2 Jesus, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from your aimless conduct received by the tradition from your fathers.

So we weren't purchased, we weren't bought with things that wear out. No, that wasn't it. It's not gold, it's not silver. How were we paid for? Because we didn't have a goal. We didn't have a purpose. We didn't have a direction. You see, the aim of the law is Jesus Christ. Before that, before having that, we were aimless. We had no point. We had no purpose. We were just like everybody else in the world, just going about their daily business. But now it's different. It's different. And he says it's all possible. How? He says, with the precious blood of Christ.

You see, we were redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He says, as if of a lamb without blemish and without spot. And so he says, we're to know this. We're to know that we were redeemed, that we were purchased, that the price was paid. There is a solution for sin. And we're to know it, not just to comprehend it, know it. This word for knowing here, sometimes it's translated in the New Testament to see it, to really grasp it, to really get it, to really understand it, to really discover it, discern it. To realize there is no other way. And this is such a valuable gift that we've been given that we value it.

We value it. And we recognize that Christ is our aim to put on Jesus Christ. And it is so important and so valuable, Peter says it is precious. It is precious. It is especially important for it, especially dear. It is especially valuable to us. And what Peter writes here is exactly what we do as we come to the Passover each year. We know. We see it. We get it. We understand it. We know it at the depth of our being, that we were purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ. And we have faith and confidence in God the Father in applying that sacrifice to each of us.

And as we come to Passover, that's what we do. We assess the value of this sacrifice to me personally. We recognize that sacrifice. And I see it's not just Christ our Passover. It's Christ my Passover and what He sacrificed for me. And so we see the focus is, well, like Peter says here, is the focus on our sins? The focus is on the Lamb. It's on the solution to my sin. Yes, I see my sin.

I recognize my sin. I'm aware of my sins. I'm burdened down by sin. But I can't flounder in it. I can't be stuck in a rut because of it. By recognizing Jesus Christ, I see that solution. I see He was sinless. I see He was spotless. I see He was the unblemished Lamb. And I need His sacrifice applied to me. And so I look to Him and I look to the Father to apply that sacrifice to me so that I can be delivered. I can be rescued. I can have salvation. That's what salvation is. It's being rescued from sin and ultimately to be given eternal life when Christ returns. And so we see that Christ is everything to us.

And as we consider that, the words really don't even describe how much we need Him, how critical He is to us. And we can think about it physically speaking without nourishment, physically, without food, without water. We're going to die. We're not going to be able to survive. And without spiritual nourishment, without a solution for sin, ultimately we die. But God says He's made a way through Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord, our intercessor, our elder brother, our teacher, our example, our strength, our King.

And so Passover moves us and it compels us to focus, yes, on our weakness, but more importantly, on the strength of the sacrifice of Christ. Our need and ultimately His abundance, our sinfulness, but His perfection.

The sentence of death that's upon us, and yet when we repent and change, we have forgiveness and the offer of eternal life. And so this amazing gift that God has given, it certainly shows how much God loves us and how He makes a way. He is the greatest gift that the Father has given. And so as we consider that gift, what is our response to that gift? Our response, are we awed by that? Are we taken aback by that? Do we feel that that should move us to react to that most valuable life that was ever lived, that was given for me? I think of maybe even more than just gratitude. Certainly worship, certainly obedience. That seems to move us to that, that we worship and we praise, and we are so grateful for the life that was given for us, that nothing else. There is no other means by which we could continue to live, live at God's way. And so when we consider this astounding cost of salvation, we see the greatness of our Heavenly Father and our elder brother's sacrifice. And so when we consider that, I think of the passage that's over in John 16, verse 33. John 16, verse 33 maybe summarizes the response that we should have just considering this amazing gift that God has given to us. I mean, we were just helpless slaves of sin, but the Passover and the sacrifice of Christ reminds us. It exemplifies God's empathy and His compassion for us. It exemplifies His kindness and His concern, the understanding that we've been given. And then should motivate us to recognize sin in our life and be disgusted by it, be revolted by it, sickened by it, so that we change and we grow and we become more Christ-like. And so we demonstrate that expressive appreciation to Him. And John wrote about that, verse 33 of John 16. Here we find Jesus Christ quoted here, and Christ said, These things I've spoken to you, almost as a summary statement of all the things that Christ spoke. He says, These things I've spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. There's great hope in this passage. Christ lived His life, gave us all of His teachings, and He says, one of those reasons why? That we would have peace. That we would have peace. And then He says, Be of good cheer. Even though this life is challenging, even though we are faced with difficulties and tribulation and trials, He overcame the world. There is a sacrifice for sin, so we should be of good cheer. Of course, reading that in New King James falls a little short there. Be of good cheer. It sounds like, put a smiley face on it and everything will be okay.

But that's not really what He's saying here. Be of good cheer doesn't really bring across the depth of the meaning of what Christ is saying here. Other translations bring out the meaning of these Greek words here. One of the translations say, when you recognize what I've spoken to you, He says, you will be unshakable and assured. Unshakable and assured. You will have peace, in other words. Then He goes on and says, in this godless world you'll continue to experience difficulties, but take heart. I've conquered the world. I've conquered the world. Some of the translations say, be courageous, be undaunted. I've conquered and overcome the world. You be encouraged. You be brave. You be certain. You be unmoved. You be filled with joy. All pointing to this great fact that we too are not just cowering in fear in this world, just hoping for Christ to return one day. He says, no! I've overcome the world. Because I've overcome the world, I can live my life in you and through you. And if I'm living my life in you, you have power to overcome the world as well. You have power to overcome Satan. You have power to overcome yourself. You have power to overcome sin through my spirit, through Christ our Passover. He says, be of good cheer. Be assured. Don't be shaken. I've conquered the world. And so Passover reminds us of these very things. In fact, one of the Psalms summarize these things, I think in a wonderful way. Psalm 111, verse 1. A fairly short song, but one that summarizes the various aspects of what we've looked at this afternoon when it comes to the Passover. And this wonderful Savior that we've been given. Psalm 111, verse 1. It says, Praise the Lord. I'll praise the Lord with my whole heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and gracious. His righteousness endures forever. He's made his wonderful works to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He's given food to those who fear Him. He will ever be mindful of His covenant. He's declared to His people the power of His works in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of His hand are verity and justice. All His precepts are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever and are done in truth and uprightness. They stand fast for ever. It says, verse 8, He sent redemption to His people. He's commanded His covenant for ever. Holy and awesome is His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

What a blessing it is to be given God's greatest gift. It is a great honor to understand the truth of what God's Word reveals. And because of what God has done by the gift, ultimately, that the Father has given through Jesus Christ His Son, we can grasp the meaning of the death of Jesus Christ, and we can recommit ourselves, deeply recognizing the significance of our Savior's death. And ultimately, we can be courageous. We can live by faith, and we can walk in righteousness. And ultimately, we can take action and go forward. Because like 1 Corinthians 5, 7, we recognize this fact. For indeed, Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.