In this mini-series, we are looking at the Easter Story through the lens of Moses and the Children of Israel leaving Egypt.
The Passover occurs in Exodus 12. It describes the final plague to fall on the Egyptians as Pharoah wouldn’t let the Children of Israel leave.
The previous nine plagues had included various unusual, though natural, events. Like plagues of frogs and flies, the River Nile turning blood red and thunderstorms of hail and fire. The final plague was the death of the firstborn throughout Egypt. The firstborn didn’t necessarily mean the eldest child, but the one who would inherit the household. So the one who died may have even been a head-servant, an adopted son or even a relative.
Before the final plague, God tells each Hebrew family to slaughter and roast a lamb. Then take the blood and smear it on the doorposts and lintels. They were to eat the lamb with unleavened bread. And eat fully dressed, ready to leave at any point during the meal.
This passage in Exodus explains this feast celebrates the first day of the Israelite new year.
There are some intriguing connections between the Passover and the death of Jesus.
Firstborn Death
The final plague was the death of the firstborn. In Hebrews, we read Jesus is the firstborn son.
Hebrews 1 v 6
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
As part of God’s judgement on Egypt, the firstborn was to die. Like at Cross, where God’s firstborn dies as well.
Smearing of the Blood
Egyptian houses were not built of wood, but clay. Having said this, it was common for the doorways and stairs to be reinforced with wood.
In the story of the Passover, the blood of the lamb is smeared on the doorways. These doorposts and lintels would have been wooded. Symbolically pointing to the blood of Christ smeared over the wooden Cross.
Taking this imagery further, this also implies the Cross is a doorway to the new life all Christians have in Christ.
The Meaning of Hyssop
In the Gospel of John, we see hyssop mentioned.
John 19 v 29
A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
Hyssop is a borrowed Hebrew word in the Greek text. There is much debate over what this plant is. The hyssop genus relates to a plant which grows between 30-60 cm tall. But it didn’t grow in Egypt, so some academics think it was sorghum grass which grows 2.5 metres high.
Sorghum grass has long stems and a fluffy head which could have easily absorb the lamb’s blood and smear it on the door posts.
The hyssop used at the death of Christ would likely have been a local plant which grew in the walls of Jerusalem. This was unrelated to sorghum grass and so would need a pole to bring it up to Jesus’ mouth.
In this part of the story of Christ’s death, we see ‘sour wine’, which looked like blood, lifted up to his mouth. Symbolically mimicking the children of Israel daubing the lintels of their houses.
Bone Breaking
When preparing the lamb to be roasted and eaten, Exodus tells us that the animal should not have broken bones.
Exodus 12 v 46-47
It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.
In the Gospel according to John, we read:
John 19 v 31-34
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
Just like the Passover Lamb, Jesus had no bones broken. But it goes further than this. The following verse talks about blood and water flowing out of His body after a solider pierces his side. I can imagine, that when the Passover Lamb was cooked and cut, blood and clear fat flowed out of the meat. A profoundly similar image to Christ on the Cross, which everyone who has cooked lamb understands.
Eating the Flesh
Eating the flesh of the roast lamb with unleavened bread reminds us of the Eucharist. Jesus says in John’s Gospel:
John 6 v 53
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb is eaten with unleavened bread. It is part of the same meal. This is the Body of Christ we eat at Eucharist. He is our Passover Lamb.
A Family Meal
The meal was to be eaten within a family setting. Those who share in the Eucharist, no mater in the past, present or future, are all part of God’s family. This is what brings the Church together, a Passover meal.
This Easter, take the time to remember Christ on the Cross and understand He is our Moses. Leading us out of the place of darkness into the Promised Land, the Kingdom of Heaven.
Grace and Peace to you!