Why Christ Jesus Was First Designated as the Lord's Passover

Well, thank you again, Alan. And once again, happy Sabbath, brethren, to all of you!

Well, as we continue to prepare for the Spring Holy Days, and that's something that we've officially begun to do here in our congregation. You've picked up a little bit of that. I'm sure in the Fine Sermon, we had a day talking about Jesus Christ as the Lamb, and all the ways that we are God's flock, that we are Lamb, and sometimes Lamb-like in our characteristics, pros and cons. So that was a very fitting, a very great entry into the Spring Holy Days this year. What I'd like to do is expand our discussion of the two roles of Jesus Christ. You may recall that I ended the sermon two weeks ago. We went to Leviticus 23, and we talked about how all of the God's Holy Days link to the Gospel, how they all have characteristics that are part of the Gospel message. The Gospel is revealed in the Holy Days in Leviticus 23, long before Jesus walked on the earth. The Holy Days of God literally reveal and preach the Gospel message. So I'd like to focus and expand our discussion on the two roles of Jesus Christ within God's plan for humanity, with a special emphasis on his first role as the Passover Lamb of God, as the Lord's Passover, because that is appropriate to us and something that we're going to be observing and acknowledging in just a few weeks. Again, I want to emphasize the misunderstanding that Jesus had two roles.

And the first role, and the roles are distinctive, and the first role was to be a suffering servant, was to be the Lord's Passover really confused a lot of Jews of his day, because they were looking for a Messiah. They were looking for someone to come and fulfill the second role, which was revealed in the seventh month on the blowing of the trumpets. They were looking for a king to come and save them from the abuses of the Roman Empire, to restore the glory of Israel, and someone who was a descendant of David, to rule in Israel, and to restore its greatness on the earth. They were not looking for a suffering servant. They were not looking for someone who was humble and would come as God's Passover and shed his blood for the sins of the world. And because they were looking for something else, they were looking for a later role. They could not in their minds acknowledge and recognize Jesus Christ, because to them he had not fulfilled the role of the Messiah. Let's go to Leviticus chapter 23 and verse 4, and again just review a couple of verses here that we touched upon as we concluded our sermon last time. Leviticus chapter 23, and we'll begin in verse 4.

It says, these are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at their pointed times. And the 14th day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover. And on the 15th day of the same month, it's the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord. Seven days you must eat unleavened bread. Of course, the unleavened bread represents Jesus Christ as the bread of life, and they are commanded to eat it because the unleavened bread pictures us, our desire, to have the righteousness of Jesus Christ living through us. It's unleavened. He said, I am the bread of life. And when we eat that unleavened bread, we are symbolizing our desire, our hunger, for Christ to live in us, for his righteousness to be revealed in us. So that's the whole spiritual purpose and meaning of that command. This is the major aspect of salvation, and that's why it's first. That's why it's before anything else, any other of the annual Holy Days mentioned in Leviticus 23.

And it was fulfilled in 31 A.D. when Jesus Christ was crucified. And as I said the last time, nothing else matters if we don't have a Savior. What good is a kingdom if you're going to grow old and die and be dead for eternity? What good did that give you? What good produce did that provide in your life if you're going to live in a wonderful kingdom until you grow old and die and then are dead for eternity? The most important thing, everything else depends on there being a Savior to save us, pay the price for our sins. So we have that opportunity to be forgiven and have a relationship with God that leads to eternal life. That's why the annual Holy Days begins with the Passover. As Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5 and verse 7, he said, purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump and we should be a new creature in Christ, growing and changing in a positive way, continually, slowly maybe, but continually, because we are a new lump. He said, since you truly are unleavened for indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us. And again, he mentions that in 1 Corinthians 5, and verse 7. So that's the first rule of Jesus Christ. The Lord's Passover Savior. And there's a direct analogy there. I think it's simple for us to understand. In ancient Israel, they took a lamb, the lamb shed his blood, and they painted that blood on the doorpost, the lentil, the doorpost of their home, and it protected them from the death angel who came and struck down every firstborn.

Well, the analogy, of course, is that Jesus Christ is the ultimate Lamb of God.

He shed his blood for the forgiveness of all sins. And you know who are the ones to be protected through that Passover sacrifice? God's first fruits. Instead of the firstborn, the first fruits, those who throughout time had been directly called by God in their lifetimes and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and changed their lives around and through the Holy Spirit lived their lives in faithfulness. They are the first fruits and they are the first ones who have been protected from eternal death. And of course, we know through God's plan, which we'll eventually get to later in this year, that God has a resurrection plan for everyone who ever lived and ultimately Jesus Christ is certainly their Savior as well.

So there's a very strong understanding there, an analogy, a comparison between that physical Lamb that was on that first Passover in ancient Israel and the spiritual essence of what Jesus Christ did for his first fruits and ultimately for everyone who has ever lived when their time comes. So that's his first rule. Number two, drop down to verses 23 through 25. When the Lord God spoke to Moses, saying, speaks to the children of Israel, saying, in the seventh month, now this isn't the first month, quite a bit longer, the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath rest, a memorial blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation, you shall do no customary work on it, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.

So there's a big gap between that first month and the Hebrew calendar and the seventh month. And the trumpets declare the arrival of Jesus Christ on earth. We're going to see that in a minute when we go to a scripture in the book of Psalms, but this occurs far later than the role Jesus portrays at the Passover, at least around 2,000 years later, because we're all patiently still waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's see what the psalmist prophetically did to connect the blowing of trumpets with the arrival of the King. Now, I could have gone to some scriptures that Paul has connecting the return of Jesus Christ with trumpets blowing, and we do that many times, but this is a scripture maybe we don't focus on often enough, and making the connection with the blowing of trumpets and Jesus Christ as King of kings. So, Psalm chapter 98 verse 5, if you'll turn there with me, we'll see again this great psalmist prophetically connects the blowing of trumpets to the arrival of the King.

Psalm chapter 98 verse 5, if you'll turn there with me. It says, Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn. Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. Let the seas roar, and all its fullness, the world, and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands.

Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. Trumpets, the Lord, the King, He is coming to judge the earth. The psalmist makes that beautiful connection between the blowing of trumpets and the second return, the second coming of Jesus Christ, with righteousness. He shall judge the world and the peoples with equity.

So that's a beautiful, beautiful prophecy in psalm from the psalmist. I want you to notice trumpets signal a change on the earth. There's the arrival of joy on earth when this scripture mentions that. In contrast, to all the horrors of the great tribulation and the time of the day of the Lord, there's an arrival of joy on the earth. Even nature celebrates the appearance of the Lord, the King. He brings righteousness, judgment, and true equality and fairness, something human beings are incapable of achieving. Jesus Christ brings it by His presence.

Now let's take a little time to explore more about this role of Jesus Christ. First, both as Savior and the future King of the earth, and then later on near the end of the sermon, I'll be focusing on His role as Savior as we begin to think about the Passover this year. So let's go to Matthew 21, verse 1.

Near the end of His life, He arrived in Jerusalem just before His arrest and His crucifixion. It's something incredible happened. The people responded in a prophetic way and fulfilled a prophecy by the everyday man and woman who was residing in Jerusalem. Spontaneous wasn't planned, and it was a magnificent fulfillment of prophecy. Matthew 21, verse 1. Let's read about it.

Now, when they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethlage, this is a village about one half mile east of Jerusalem. It's actually on the slope of the Mount of Olives, and except in the synoptic gospels here, it's not mentioned in any other context, but they do mention it.

So He came to this village, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them, and immediately He will send them.

All of this was done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet. This happens to be, and what's going to be fulfilled, is Zechariah chapter 9, verse 9. It's going to be completely fulfilled. Verse 5 here, continuing, Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your king is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the fowl of a donkey. So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set him on them. So the ride is easier. I'm not sure they had leather saddles back then, but so the ride is easier. They put clothing over the donkey, the colt, and they put him on it. So he has a little bit of a cushion. His legs are not against that raw fur of the animal. Verse 6, So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set him on them. And a very great multitude. Again, this is spontaneous. Spread their clothes on the road. Others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. By the way, only John's Gospel specifies that these branches, some of them were palm branches, and that's in John chapter 12 and verse 13. So we'll stop there and we'll pick up a few more verses, but the colt represents humility. Jesus, unlike the role he will fulfill in the seventh month, Jesus does not arrive on a white warhorse. He arrives as a role of humility, riding of all things a donkey. Spreading garments out before someone in ancient times was an act of submission paid to royalty. If you go back to 2 Kings chapter 9 verse 13, you'll see that's what they did to King Jehu. They, in a very similar experience, they laid their garments before him. That was an act of submission and respect for someone who was considered royal. The palm branches picture the Feast of Tabernacles. Now, even though this is the Feast that's coming up is the Passover in Days of Unleavened Bread, these palm branches that were used represent literally the Feast of Tabernacles. We were in Leviticus 23. Earlier, we didn't read verse 40 that states that on the first day, the fruit of splendid trees and branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. So the way that the booths were to be made in preparation for the Feast also included palm branches. So that act represented acknowledgement of a king belonging for a kingdom represented, of course, by the Feast of Tabernacles. Revelation chapter 9 verses 7 and 10 states a prophecy about the great multitude.

Now, we don't have time to go there today, but if you go to Revelation chapter 7 and verse 9, you'll see a great multitude is called out of this world at the latter days. And it says, they're standing before the throne and before the lamb clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice saying salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb. So that's the connection of these palm branches that are also used as Jesus makes his, as it's called, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Now, let's pick it up again in verse 9. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out saying, Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved saying, who is this? So the multitude said, this is Jesus. Remember, Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Yahoshua, which means Yahweh is deliverance.

His very name means God is deliverance. So they said, this is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth and Galilee. Now, how many times do we run into this word Hosanna? We used to have a song that was sung by our choirs many years ago in the church, almost every feast of tabernacles. I don't know, is it the holy city that says, Hosanna in the highest? Very beautiful song, might be the holy city. But what does Hosanna mean? Have we ever inquired about that? Or do we kind of guess and think with just some form of praise? Well, what it means, obviously, it's spoken of here in Greek, the original Hebrew is more like Hosanna. And it means, Oh, save me! Save, oh, save! I need salvation. Now, it might be salvation from the oppression of the Roman Empire.

It might be a salvation from our sins, but that's what these people were crying out, save me! I need a savior! And they were implying here is the savior riding on a donkey, humbly coming into Jerusalem. And when he had come into Jerusalem, as I said, the city was moved. They said, who is he?

And the multitude said, this is Jesus. This is Yahweh is deliverance, a prophet from Nazareth and Galilee. So here we read the fulfillment of a prophecy found in Zechariah chapter 9 and verse 9, that the king would come riding in on a donkey. And his entry into Jerusalem was confirmation that he was born to be a savior, and he was intended to be the Messiah. You see the Messiah now?

No, sorry, he's going to die. He's going to be crucified. Rome still exists for another 500 years before it falls, and the world goes on and on. There's no restoration of Israel. There's no glory or re-establishing the throne of David. None of that happens yet. The crowds may have hoped that Jesus would lead a revolt against the Roman Empire, against the Roman leaders, but that never happened. This was never Jesus's intent or reason. It was never the reason that the Father sent him the first time to earth. Jesus instead would die a humble, brutal death on the cross, paying the price for humanity's sins, a debt that he bore so that we could be free from death and forgiven of our sins, so that we could have the future, so that when we hear someone talk about the good news of the kingdom of God, it's not some shallow, limited, earthly kingdom by a descendant of David, and, oh, I'm in the kingdom of God! I grew old and died for eternity. No, it's not that kind of good news. It's good news of the gift of eternal life. That's the good news. Let's go to John chapter 12 and verse 12. John chapter 12 and verse 12. I'd like to just look at John's account of the use of this word, hosanna. John chapter 12 and verse 12.

John chapter 12 verse 12, the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. That would be the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread that year. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took branches of palm trees. That's how that we know that that included or was palms, that we read in the other gospels, and went out to meet Him and cried out, hosanna, save us!

Oh, save us, please. We need salvation. Blessed He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. What are they looking for? They're looking for a Messiah. They're looking for a King to restore the Kingdom of Israel to its former greatness, to throw off the shackles of the Roman Empire. And that's God has plans for the coming Kingdom of God, but it was not time for that to happen again. I want to emphasize this is why many Jews had a stumbling block over accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, because they were looking for the wrong thing. They were looking for a Messiah and a King in their time, in their age. Verse 14, then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it, as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Israel, behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt, once again quoting Zachariah. His disciples did not understand these things at first. But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him, and that they had done these things to Him. Therefore, the people who were with Him, when He called Lazarus out of His tomb and raised Him from the dead, bore witness. So they saw all of these events. They were witnesses to all of these events. So one can only imagine what it must have been like to see the humble Jesus Christ riding into Jerusalem, the rightful King, designated by God, as He received the glory and worship that He alone was worthy of.

Hosanna in the highest, again, means more than just praise and utterance of praise. The word literally means save us. It's a joyful cry out for help, for salvation, for freedom. In our case, help and salvation and freedom from sin, from the effects of sin. Now you might be asking yourself, Mr. Thomas, there's something here that doesn't make sense.

You might be asking yourself, don't these scriptures imply that Jesus is a King now?

As a matter of fact, Mr. Thomas, when asked by Pilate if he were a King, didn't Jesus say that was the reason he was born? You could find that in John 18, verse 36. Well, that's a good question.

Please allow me to give you an answer. Indeed, Jesus was born to be a King. And in his lifetime, as we saw here, he was proclaimed a King. Yet he did tell Pilate in John chapter 18 that his kingdom was not of this world, meaning, yes, I'm born to be a King, but I'm a King at the right time. A King when I'm meant to be King. Let me give you an analogy, maybe something all of you can understand. In the United Kingdom, Prince Charles was born to be a King. When his mother Elizabeth became pregnant, the English newspapers, the future King, soon to be King, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, he was born to be a King. And this happened while he was still in his mother's womb as soon as everyone found out that she was pregnant.

Charles was proclaimed and declared a future King. And his lifetime since then has been in preparation. He's been waiting for what he was born to be and born to do. He's been waiting his whole lifetime. And he'll become King when the time is right. At age 72, happens to be the longest heir apparent in the history of the British Empire. At age 72, he's still waiting for his mom to leave the scene. His mother and father have very long, long lifespans, by the way, in their 90s. I think his dad is closing in 100 years old. There's a lot of physical strength in his family lineage. So he's still waiting. But in a secular way, when his mom dies, he'll become King. In a spiritual sense, Jesus was born to be King. But he'll become King of the Earth and fulfill that role in Leviticus 23 that's represented by the seventh month in the trumpets when the father says, Jesus, now go back, return, and establish that glorious Kingdom.

So, just like Prince Charles was born to be a King, Jesus Christ, indeed, was born to be a King, the King of the Earth, and recognized during his lifetime that he was. Let's now go to Luke chapter 2 and verse 1 and focus on the first role of Jesus Christ as the Lord's Passover, as is mentioned in Leviticus chapter 23 and verse 5. Luke chapter 2 and verse 1, Now it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This is leading up to the birth of Jesus, the events. And census first took place while Carineus was governing Syria, so all went to be registered everyone in his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, into the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was in the house and lineage of David to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. Verse 6, So it was, while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son. And that's very important to mention because she would have a second-born son. She would have other children through having a physical, marital relationship with Joseph, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the end. Now, there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

This obviously, the season was fall. It wasn't winter. It wasn't anywhere around December, particularly December 25th, because the flocks were still out. So this would have been fall and could possibly have been around the time of the fall holy days. Some even speculate that he was born on the Feast of Trumpets. Wouldn't that be incredible if that were true and highly symbolic?

Verse 9, And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. As you and I would be if we're just doing our thing, and suddenly angels miraculously pop up in front of us and begin a conversation.

Verse 10, Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people.

And here it is, For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior.

What's the first thing mentioned? The first quality? The first role that Jesus fulfills?

A Savior, who is the Christ and the Lord, who is also the King, the Messiah, the anointed one that's promised. But the first mention? The Savior. Begin. If we don't have a Savior, nothing else matters.

Everything else is meaningless if we simply grow old and die for eternity.

Verse 12, And this will be the sign to you, you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, and suddenly there was with the angel. Now, if you think you were scared of the angel, how would you feel when suddenly a multitude show up? Right? This huge group of heavenly hosts praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.

So what's the first? This is the very first words that are mentioned after his birth.

The Bible records, he is referred to as a Savior, who is also by the way Christ the Lord.

Now, verse 11 from the new Revised Standard Version says this, and I'll just read verse 11. For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah the Lord.

Savior first, also Messiah, King, anointed one.

Christ the Lord, which is a phrase here used in verse 11. Of course, Christ coming from the Greek Christos means the anointed one or the Messiah. These three titles were given to Jesus in the angels announcement Savior, Christ that is the Messiah, the anointed one, and Lord that is Yahweh or God. He is proclaimed first as a Savior who is also the Messiah, also God. Notice that both roles of Jesus are mentioned here as are indicated in Leviticus chapter 23.

But something's mentioned first because that's the priority and that's what we'll be portraying within a few weeks as we begin to celebrate the Lord's Passover.

Now let's see what Paul's emphasis is. Philippians chapter 3 verse 17. Let's look at a couple of writings of Paul before we go to Peter. Paul, Philippians chapter 3 and verse 17, and see what he says.

Philippians chapter 3 and verse 17, brethren join in following my example and note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern. We should follow the good examples of the ministry, of the pillars in the church, look at their lives, follow their examples. They're there for a reason, for your benefit. So take a look at those examples.

And then in contrast, he talks sadly about something that was bothering him. Verse 18, for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Some who were members, some who were faithful members have abandoned the faith. And sometimes people who do that hate God, begin persecuting the church, create websites and pages, put the church down, they put down everything that we believe because they hate Christ. They become enemies of the cross. Verse 19, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. Then Paul gets away from that negativity and he says, for our citizenship is in heaven, for which we also eagerly wait for the Savior. What quality does he mention in Jesus Christ first? Savior, because that's the priority. Without that, nothing else happens. Nothing else is possible. Existence and life is meaningless.

We also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body so that it may be conformed to his glorious body according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself. So here Paul emphasizes the role of Christ. He's our Savior now, and in the future the whole world will accept him and declare him as Savior.

But right now, for his firstfruits, those throughout the last 2,000 years who have accepted him as their personal Savior and been converted and received God's Spirit, he's our Savior now.

But ultimately, according to God's plan, everyone has that opportunity for salvation. So again, Paul's emphasis, Jesus Christ, the Savior, is mentioned first, and he also mentions Jesus is the anointed one as well.

Let's go to Titus chapter 1 and verse 1 to see his opening to the book of Titus. Titus chapter 1 verse 1. Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with godliness in hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie promised before time began but has in due time manifested his word through preaching which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior. Notice how he connects eternal life with God our Savior. Why? Because in Paul's mind that role of Jesus Christ is the priority. Nothing happens, particularly eternal life, if we don't have a Savior. Verse 4, to Titus, a true son in our common faith, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. So again, I want you to notice Paul's emphasis on Jesus Christ as Savior, oftentimes mentioned in order of priority describing Christ's roles and characteristics Savior first, and then in addition the Lord Jesus Christ Jesus Christos, Jesus the anointed one. Let's see what Peter's emphasis was. 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 13.

1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 13.

Peter writes, therefore gird up the loins of your mind. Now I'm not going to do an expository commentary on that because we heard a very good one. Mr. Lee gave a sermon what to wear on May 20 this year, and if you want a beautiful and detailed understanding of all the meanings and the richness of this kind of phrase, then I encourage you to listen to his sermon again. Then again, it was what to wear on May 8th of 2020. Continuing, Peter says, be sober and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lust, as in your ignorance, not acting, conducting yourself like the way you did before you were converted, is what Peter's saying. Verse 15, for as he who called you is holy, you also must be holy in all your conduct. That's the goal, and that's not easy, but God gives us his Holy Spirit to help us. The goal isn't to be holy on Saturdays. It isn't to be holy sometimes, or when it's convenient, it's to be holy in all your conduct. That's a pretty lofty goal, and it kind of ties in with, like, become you perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect. That's a lifetime project, but that's a wonderful goal and something that we should be continually working on.

Believing and understanding that Jesus Christ in us fills that gap for us where we fall short, as we continue to grow and change, and that's why the Father considers us as his righteous, precious jewels. Verse 16, because it is written, Be holy for I am holy, and if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. So Peter's saying, our conduct, this is important. The way we act, our examples and our conduct, don't slough that off. That's just really important. Verse 16, I'm going to read this from the New Century version. So while you are here on earth, you should live with respect for God. We don't want to receive God's punishment because we didn't get it. We didn't take our calling seriously. And the way to avoid that is, first of all, to have a deep and profound and awesome respect for God, and for his law, and for what he wants us to do in our lives with that powerful gift of his Spirit that he's given us. All right, now back to verse 18, here in Peter. Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by the tradition from your fathers, and true dysfunction is usually passed down for generation, generation, parents to children, those children become parents, they send down the same dysfunctions to their children, those children become parents, and it seems to go on and on through the human race, doesn't it? Verse 19, but with the precious, so here's we're redeemed, not with things like gold or silver. Verse 19, but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish and without spot. Interesting, he refers to Jesus Christ here as a lamb. Why? Because like Paul, he acknowledged that he is Christ our Passover, sacrificed for us. For ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who through him believe in God and raised him from the dead, and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in God. Much like Paul, Peter describes Christ as the Lord's Passover, slain for the sins of the world, he mentions in the context of self-examining our conduct and examples of how important that is in doing that in fear, and he mentions we're to do that continually. And we are to do the same thing in preparation for the coming days of Unleavened Bread this year.

It's interesting that once you get through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, until you get to Revelation, you find Jesus referred to as a king only a couple of times.

So go beyond the four Gospels and how he's mentioned in King of the Book of Acts, and stop there and read the writings of Paul and Peter and John and Jude. Until you get to Revelation, where again the understanding and the concept of the king comes up, you will find within the heart of the New Testament very few references that Jesus is a king, but you'll find a lot of references that Jesus is the Savior. Revelation chapter 5 and verse 1, let's see what the Apostle John wrote. Here in Revelation 5, obviously early in the Book of Revelation, only chapter 5, John in his vision, he sees a scroll that has seven seals and he becomes upset, agitated, because they want to know what's in that scroll. What does the scroll say? They can't find anyone worthy enough to peel off one at a time those seals. Revelation chapter 5 and verse 1, and I saw on the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll written, inside under the back sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and lose its seals? And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at that. And I wept much because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to look at it. But wait, there's more. Verse 5, but, very powerful word in the English language, but one of the elders said to me, do not weep. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and lose its seven seals. I looked and behold in the midst of the throne of the four living creatures, in the midst of the elder stood a lamb, as though it had been slain.

Not standing a king on his war horse, on his white war horse, ready to come down on the earth and seize the kingdoms of this world. No, he sees a lamb that still has the remnants of the scars of his crucifixion on him. Symbolically, obviously, this is a vision. So again, he sees a lamb as though it had been slayed. No war horse yet, as would be recorded later in Revelation chapter 19. Having seven horns, meaning he's all-powerful, seven eyes, meaning he's all-seeing, he can see everything, which the seven spirits of God sent out into the earth. In other words, he's all-knowing he has, spiritual beings reporting to him everything that happens in every area of the globe.

So again, he's all-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing, magnificent. Verse 7, then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Now when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Sweet-smelling incense going up to God. And every day, every time you pray to our Father, it's a sweet-smelling incense coming. That's what your prayers are to God. They're not a burden. They're something that's sweet-smelling and wonderful to him.

Verse 9, and they sang a new song, saying, you are worthy to take the scroll, to open its seals, for you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood. You are the lamb. You are the Lord's Passover. Just like it says early in Leviticus 23 that we'll be acknowledging and recognizing and celebrating in a few weeks. You have redeemed us to God by your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests for our God, and we shall reign on the earth. Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, including a bit more people than I'm capable of counting of.

Just impossible for human beings to even count the number. Verse 12, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb, Savior, the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. So in this vision, we see as John sees Jesus as the Lord's Passover for us of the annual Holy Days, the very first thing mentioned in Leviticus 23, for a good reason. Even his crucifixion scars are evident in this vision that John sees of this Lamb.

Now let's go a little farther in Revelation chapter 17 and verse 12.

John chapter 17 and verse 12, in the midst of a prophecy about ten nations in Europe that will temporarily rise together to war against Christ, war against his people. But it isn't the prophecy so much that I want to focus on, but in Revelation chapter 17, what it says about Jesus Christ will begin in verse 12. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom yet, but they shall receive authority for one hour as kings of the beast.

These are of one mind and they will give their power and authority to the beast. So this is a great European superpower that will arise in the future. Verse 14, these will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and those who are with him are called chosen and faithful. Notice the first title he's given, Lamb, Savior, the Lord's Passover, and he's also referred to as the Lord of Lord and the King of Kings. Let's go to Revelation chapter 22, the end of the book of Revelation.

Revelation chapter 22, and we'll take a look at verses 1 through 3, our final scripture for today.

We saw how all the way back in Revelation chapter 5, John refers to Jesus Christ as the Lamb, as though it had been slain. He doesn't mention Jesus on a war horse, on a white horse, and swords, or anything. He mentions the Lamb, priority, Savior, that makes everything else possible.

The last chapter of the book of Revelation chapter 22 verse 1, and he showed me a pure river of water, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God, and the Lamb.

You see, after he conquers the world, after the nations have been put down, after the rebellion has ceased, he's not the eternal warlord, he's not the tyrant, he's not the dictator, flashing around on his white horse, striking everybody down who doesn't agree with him.

That's not his role. That was necessary, temporarily, for seizing the kingdom of this world to become the kingdom of our Christ. But now, he's at the throne of God, and he's pictured and represented and seen by John as a humble, loving Lamb, as our Savior, in the middle of its street, and on either side of the river was the tree of life which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations, not for the striking of the nations, not for the beating up and pummeling of the nations, for the healing of the nations, and there shall be no more curse. But the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him. That's you and I. That's the wonderful role that God has planned for us within that kingdom. So, John begins the book of Revelation by introducing Jesus Christ as the Lord's Passover, the Lamb, and he ends the book of Revelation, the last chapter, the last few verses of the entire book, the same way. And this is why in a few weeks we will observe that first essential role of Jesus Christ as our Savior, he is the Lord's Passover. First mention of the annual Holy Days there in Leviticus chapter 23. It's his sacrifice, his shed blood, his death and resurrection that makes everything else possible, especially the gift of eternal life. Brethren, let's think about these things in the coming weeks as we prepare for the Passover of this year, the Passover and Spring Holy Days of 2021. And let's make it the most meaningful and rich and spiritually gratifying Holy Days that we've ever been able to celebrate in our lifetimes. We can do that. It's up to our choice. It's something we can do if we prepare in advance and focus on the Lord's Passover. Have a wonderful Sabbath.