The Cross did not happen to Jesus—He came on purpose for it. According to Revelation 13:8 He is “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” God who knows all things knew that there would be a sin problem both among the heavenly host before the creation of man and afterwards in mankind that would require God to become incarnate in His Son for the purpose of redemption. The Cross is the center of time and of eternity where the way to life and relationship with God is opened. Peter explains it in 1 Peter: 19-20: “But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” The symbol of the sacrificial lamb goes back to the very beginning of humanity. We first see the shedding of blood in Genesis when God Himself would slay animals (most likely lambs) to make a suitable covering for Adam and Eve after their disobedience. God was setting forth the principle that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for sin. (Heb. 9:22) Scripture progressively reveals the submissive lamb as the way to victory over sin and evil. There are over 70 references to the lamb in the Old Testament and emerges again and again as the key to the Lord’s plan of redemption. The climax of that foreshadowing is seen in Passover which is detailed in the 12th chapter of Exodus which occurred around 3,500 years ago. It was first referred to as “feasting for freedom” and marks Israel’s liberation from Egypt, a type of the world system in spiritual darkness. Its centerpiece is the lamb, sacrificed in Egypt. Exodus 12: 5-8 records the instructions given to Moses to give the people. “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats. And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month, and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” The blood was to be applied to each side of the door and at the top. If one was to connect the blood on the side posts with an imaginary line and from the top of the door to the bottom, it is a clear picture of the Cross. Verse 11 declares that this is the LORD’S Passover. In verses 12-13 it is made clear that judgment was coming to all Egypt and their gods and to all who did not apply the blood of the lamb upon their doorposts. Passover’s main message is redemption. The lamb, sacrificed in Egypt during the night, foreshadows Jesus’ own arrest and illegal midnight trial, culminating in His sacrifice the next day. His function was the same as the first Passover lamb in Egypt, to bring liberation and redemption, first to Israel, then to the whole world. It is about God’s plan to redeem Israel from slavery, but it contains wonderful parallels to Christianity: The lamb was observed for three days to make sure it was perfect, without defect. Jesus was carefully observed during His three years of public ministry on earth and was pronounced not guilty by Pontius Pilate, who declared, “I find no fault in Him” (Jn. 19:6). The Passover lambs were to be slain for the atonement for sin by the priests for the people as set forth in the Levitical sacrifices. The lambs were slain at 3:00 on the appointed day which was the same time that Jesus died on the cross. He fulfilled all the words of Psalm 22 as we studied last week. In reviewing the biblical history of the Lamb, we find a surprising fact. The Old Testament often refers to the lamb of sacrifice. But in the New Testament, the sacrificial lamb is mentioned by name only four times outside the book of Revelation where it is mentioned 26 times. Passover is a beautiful picture of God’s love for all mankind through His provision of Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb, whose death and resurrection provide spiritual deliverance from the bondage of sin to all who put their faith in Him. Christ is our Passover according to Hebrews 9:12: “Christ entered the Most Holy Place only once—and for all time. He did not take with him the blood of goats and calves. His sacrifice was his own blood, and by it he set us free from sin forever.” BEHOLD THE LAMB!