The Blood of the Lamb - #9

.. kill the Passoverlamb. You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and apply the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin, and none of you shall go out from the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to kill the Egyptians. And when He sees the blood upon the lintel and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not permit the destroyer to come to your houses to killyou(Ex. 12:21c-23)

From the newfound treasure I’ve found in seeking the presence of the Lord every morning, I have felt Him teaching me and leading me. That teaching has led me to some life-long dreams that I’ve always wanted to get to but never had the courage to, as well as to some very unexpected areas that only He could encourage me to investigate. He started reminding me of times in my own personal experiences where the life and growth that came out my hardships have been worth all the pain. He then reminded me of the many stories in scripture where the same lesson is true. As I was led by the number of different revelations He’s shown me over the last several weeks, (in which I have been calling ‘puzzle pieces’ because He hasn’t revealed a complete picture with them yet), I read about the Passover festival in Exodus 12. It felt very important to study for some reason, especially during this season of sheltering.

I grew up in a Christian home, with Godly principles that were based on the Word of God. However, I never sought out, nor understood the festivals found in the Old Testament. He calls these important festivals, Appointed Times (or Appointed Feasts). Growing up, I heard and read about many old testament laws and stories, but wasn’t able to personally connect with many of them. While I did connect with some of them and revered most of them, I was not able to see the connectedness of all of them together... until I re-read the story of how God delivered Moses and His people out of Egypt and how He used Passover to do it! Within my digging and bridging this story to many others, I found how foundational Passover is. It links all the other stories in His Word together to make one BIG story... The story of His faithfulness to His people through His covenants (or promises).

This post will take you through the revelations the Holy Spirit led me through to understanding how Passover is an essential key to unlocking this big picture story of his faithfulness to His people. (Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a Bible scholar in any way. I am simply a lover of Jesus and His Word, and live as fully as I can within the presence of His Holy Spirit, who is at work in me).

Now that that is out of the way, I’d love to share with you what happened in my heart as I dug deeper into the Passover event. Re-reading Exodus 12, I quickly realized that I needed to go back to the beginning of the story to gain a better perspective. So when I dove deeper into the story of Moses (Exodus chapters 1-12), I found some very interesting things! Some fascinating happenings take place in this story which sound an awful lot like our current spiritual and cultural positioning...

Looking at the Biblical events of this passage first, I saw that the Israelites were slaves in a country that was not their own, forced to beat to the drum of an evil king. This king, Pharoh, had power over the land and made himself a god to the people. He called himself the Bright and Morning Star, thus claiming an unworthy title that only belongs to the one true King. Are we not in this same scenario as Christians today? Do we not live in a world that is not our home, and are expected to bow down to all the earthly idols that our enemy has built up around us? Is Pharoh not a shadow of Satan? The one who comes to steal, kill, accuse and destroy all that God has planned for His people, (Jews and Gentiles alike)?

Looking farther, we see that Moses is called by God to stand up against Pharoh (who was raised blindly as his own brother). He doubts his ability to do what God asks, but nevertheless agrees to it because God fills Him with the hope and strength of His own Spirit! The same evil spirit that fought against God and Moses in this story, has taken over our current age and threatens Christians with every chance. The enemy behind it beguiles them to think that their efforts to spread the truth are useless within such an era. Relating it to the most recent situation, I see the fear that Satan has spread with the Coronavirus outbreak. And it has been detrimental to many families. However, I am seeing the power of the Lord rising up in it all.... bringing homes and families closer together, and closer to Him... just like what He did with those Israelite families when they were asked to paint their doors with the blood of a spotless lamb. No doubt, they were feeling very much like we are, waiting for the threat to pass, and asking that the Lord would protect them and all they love. This story reminds me that with the protection of our good and loving Father, we can find peace within His plan, even when it doesn’t make sense all the time. We need to trust in His peaceful leading, and rely on His faithfulness. Just as He moved mightily to save His people enslaved among the cruelty of their oppressor, Pharoh, and I am certain He will do the same for us today.

Stepping out of my studying of Passover and the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt for a minute, I looked at the calendar and was shocked! At the time, Passover 2020 was only two weeks away! I realized that He was leading me to find the current importance and beauty in this Appointed Time, which He wrote down in His Word so long ago. Within my quiet appointments with Him each morning, I had questions. Lots of questions! Questions about the laws that were given within this festival and if they actually apply to us today. I found that the piece which seemed to hold the answers I was looking for were within the covenants that He had made with His people. So I researched all the mention of covenants that I could find. There are many of them, but these were the one’s I found most prevalent:

-God's covenant with Noah (Genesis 6:8; 9:9-17)

-Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 15:18; 17:2-21)

-Moses and the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:5; 24:7-8; 31:16; 34:10, 27; etc.)

-Christ’s new covenant through His blood (Jer. 31:31-34; Luke 22:20; Hebrews 8, 9 & 10; etc).

He taught me more and more about this covenant line that connects the Old Testament to the New, and how they differ. I found that connected line to be centered around the blood of the spotless Lamb. In the old covenant, it was found through the blood of the innocent animals (and the Passover’s spotless lamb), and in the new covenant, it was through Jesus’ willing sacrifice to pour out his own blood as The Spotless Lamb. I didn’t quite understand it all yet, but I pressed on with the idea that the blood of the Lamb was key.

Within this realization, He pointed me back to the Passover and urged me to establish this foundational truth about ‘the blood’ within my home, just as the Israelites on that first Passover night did as they painted the blood of the spotless lamb on their doorposts! The blood of the Lamb is what holds the power! I realized in this moment that the spotless lamb in Exodus 12 is the same spotless Lamb who hung on the cross! God gave an amazing foreshadowing of Jesus long before He revealed His amazing plan of redemption! (Isn’t that so cool?)!

In order to make His blood and its’ power our focus during this difficult time of sheltering, He pointed me toward actually implementing the Passover feast in my home this year. If felt very important. My heart began to yearn to obey, (for I have recently seen the joy that comes from it), but I was also riddled with questions. In that original moment I felt Him ask me to do this, I said to myself, “Wait, what?! I’m not Jewish! Am I supposed to celebrate the actual Passover dinner with my (Gentile) family? Am I allowed to?” He lovingly showed me how I have been invited to share in His family traditions because I am indeed part of His family.

“6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” -Ephesians 3:6

So, as I felt Him leading me to observe Passover with my family this year, I had to learn about what that should look like, (since I have never been to a Passover feast before). As I mentioned already though, there were a lot of rules related to this feast (eliminate all leaven in the home, sacrificing animals, food restrictions and all within specific timings)! Because I desperately wanted to get this right, I seriously considered trying to follow all of them... (all except the animal sacrificing, of course!). I then immediately noticed anxiety, confusion and stress encompassing my plans for this celebration. So I began to pray for clarity. This verse came to mind.

“33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” -1 Cor. 14:33

I was allowing this confusion to boss me around. It was killing my joy and my heartfelt desire to obey. As I prayed my way through this, this verse, as well as His calming Presence each morning helped to bring peace about not literally throwing away all of the bread/yeast in my home or sacrificing an animal (insert puke emoji here). I decided to go through with this event, focusing on the aspects that centralize on Jesus alone, (no seder dish, no seeking out the hidden matzah bread, etc.); only Jesus and His gift, which paid for our debt. Without His blood, we would be stuck in an old covenant that we’d never be able to pay.

“3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

-Romans 8:3-4

As I moved forward with this plan, I felt so much better. I felt a weight lift off of my shoulders. THEN, I found confirmation in God’s Word about why Passover can still be celebrated today without all the specific commandments it was originally given with. Check this out...

“6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

-2 Cor. 3:6

The ‘letter’ represents the laws of the old covenant, which when not accomplished properly resulted in sin that made a separation from God (Isaiah 59:2). Because God wanted to dwell with His people, He accepted the death of an innocent animal to cover the cost of their sin (which was death). These animal’s blood symbolized the death of the animal, but also the significance of the life that was spared, (Exodus 24)! Blood needed to be paid in order for forgiveness to be given, and that is why Jesus gave his own blood for us... so we didn’t have to go through the cycle of paying atonement for sin every time it happened. If that sequence continued, He knew it would eventually kill our joy, just as it was beginning to do in me as I was learning how to prepare for my own Passover meal.

Therefore when Jesus willingly sacrificed himself, our covenant with God changed. You see, these animals and rules from the old testament were a temporary way for the Lord to be able to stay near to His people after Adam and Eve brought sin into the world and separated us from Him. He was always faithful to this promise, it was us that messed up! So a new covenant was formed through Jesus’ death, which paid for the sins of the whole world; once and for all through his sacrificial blood; the blood of the Lamb! This created the new blood of the covenant (Luke 22:20).

“8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” -Hebrews 10:8-10

This display proves that the old covenant (which insisted on death paying for life and forgiveness) was fulfilled by His willingness to give His own death as payment for our lives. He set aside the first (temporary), to establish the second (eternal), (Heb 10:9)! Now because Jesus has risen and lives forever, he has become our connectedness to God, (as the High Priest - Heb. 7:24), and this sacrifice will never have to be renewed as the old temporary sacrifices were. Because Jesus’ reign will last forever, so will His sacrifice for us! Jesus revising this old covenant into the new covenant made it so that these specific laws and rules would not kill our desire to obey or joy, but would be established in grace through the power of His blood and the gifting of the Holy Spirit.

“25 These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.’” 

-John 14:25-26

The other scripture I found to justify this realization was:

“13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” -Hebrews 8:13

Here was my final confirmation! I felt so much relief! Then I had the thought, “Maybe I’m the only Christian that didn’t know this!” : ) Whether thats true or not, I felt so honored that the Lord took time to teach me and answer my specific questions in such a loving and clear way! I realized that within the new covenant that Jesus’ blood established, the “leaven” in our homes can be symbolic for the sin in our own hearts. He wants us to be cleansed of sin, and this Passover tradition is a great opportunity to be reminded to clear out all the sin that could be left behind and move forward, cleaned and ready to receive all that He has for us. All the rules and regulations that have been created to “celebrate” this festival burdens my heart, because it really should be about our hearts, not our actions (Mary vs. Martha).

So as Passover 2020 approached, I felt confirmed, ready and filled with anticipation of what the Spirit would do in our home. And boy, was I blessed by the end of the night! Our first annual Passover meal was exactly what I hoped it would be! Did I do everything perfectly? No. Did I do everything I could have done? No. There are probably a million more awesome ways to implement the power of the Passover in our home, but God has shown me that as long as I am aiming for Jesus and as long as I keep my heart in it (over my brain!), we will succeed in joy and blessing. There is so much liberty that comes with obeying His commands, and just as James 1:22-25 says, blessings flow from doing what we’ve heard. And oh how tit was true for me on this night!

For dinner we had roast beef, horse radish, homemade matzah bread (which was a glorified tortilla!), broccoli, rice and chocolate macaroons for dessert. We then talked about how faithful our God was to deliver his people from Egypt and all the plagues (using my son’s handy AWANA project, complete with ten pages of four-year-old scribbled pictures - one for each plague), and how He will do the same for us. We thanked God for being our shining light in the darkness, we asked that the eyes of our hearts would always be open and then we took communion together for the first time. It was a precious memory that will forever be etched in my memory. We ended the night with The Prince of Egypt film, which was so powerful! It’s a new favorite kids movie for us! Right after our table talk, my oldest said, “This is a special night. It’s probably the most special night of my life!” And my four-year-old son followed her saying, “Me too!” I know their faith was strengthened and filled with truth on this very special night. It blessed me so much to see God lead me to this grand, yet humble celebration, and how my obedience resulted in abundant closeness and rich truth not only for me, but for my whole family.

I hope you all would use this time of sheltering to dig into whatever it is He is calling you to. Whatever it is, be sure to test it to the Word, and live it out with all your heart... not only your mind (which will kill our joy). He will bless every heart-felt effort, and will blow your mind along the way! If you believe that the blood of Jesus holds the power to protect and bring redemption within our fallen world, paint it over your doorposts with me (figuratively speaking... no more animal sacrificing, remember?), as we pray and wait on Him to deliver us from this difficult time of sheltering in place.

To close, I just have to share how God tied Easter into all of this. As I read about His resurrection on Easter morning, I came across this verse in Luke 24:13-34, which seemed to sum up the exact journey he had taken me on. It wasn’t until I invited Him to dwell (or shelter!) at our table with us, that I recognized Him. And at that very moment, it was clear that He had been with me, teaching me and leading me all along the way!

“27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself... 29 they begged him, “Stay the night with us; since it is getting late.”So he went home with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with

us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

-Luke 24:30-32

The Holy Spirit is the best teacher there is and I am so thankful that He is investing in us... all who believe and seek truth!