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The Passover
Based on Exodus 12
The Lord had spoken to Moses. He had said, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you and your people go.”
Before the plague was to come, God instructed each Israelite family to kill a lamb. They were to eat a meal together and paint the posts around the door with the blood from the lamb. This would protect the Israelites from the plague that was to come.
At midnight the Lord struck down every oldest son in Egypt. He killed the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne. He killed all the oldest sons of prisoners. He also killed all the male animals born first to their mothers among the livestock. Pharaoh and all his officials got up during the night. So did all the Egyptians. There was loud crying in Egypt because someone had died in every home.
During the night, Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, “Get out of here! You and the Israelites, leave my people! Go. Worship the Lord, just as you have asked. Go. Take your flocks and herds, just as you have said. And also give me your blessing.”
After all the plagues that the Egyptians suffered, Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go. God instructed the Israelites to celebrate their freedom from slavery every year with a feast called the Passover. This feast was to celebrate the day that death passed over them before they were set free.
What does this mean for me?
Even Jesus celebrated the feast called The Passover. It was a time to remember how God had saved the Israelites from death. It is no coincidence that Jesus celebrated The Passover just before he died on the cross to save us from sin. The blood on the doorposts protected the Israelites from death. The blood that Jesus shed on the cross for us protects us from sin and death!
Read Luke 22:15, 16 in the Bible!
He said to them, “I have really looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you. I wanted to do this before I suffer. I tell you, I will not eat the Passover meal again until it is celebrated in God’s kingdom.”
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