With the fact that Christ is pictured by the Passover clearly established, let us turn to this instructive type and compare it with the Lamb of God.

Having noted the remarkable correspondence between the Passover Lamb and Christ, the Lamb of God, as presented above in parallel columns, we would like to point out some of the remarkable details which make this type even more interesting.

First, we consider the spotless character of the Passover Lamb. The lamb was to be taken on the tenth day and kept up until the fourteenth day (Exod. 12:3, 5). This would give ample opportunity for any defect in the lamb to be detected. Likewise, Christ, the Lamb of God, was in the public eye of Israel for nearly four years during His public ministry. He challenged His accusers to point out some sin in His life when He said, "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" (John 8:46). And Pilate, the Roman Governor after questioning Him declared, "I find no fault in Him" (John 19:4). As the writer to the Hebrews affirmed, He "was in all points tested like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15). Or as Peter wrote, "A lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:19).

Next, we call attention to the fact that the lamb must be slain. It is clearly stated that "the congregation of Israel shall KILL it in the evening (or, 'between the evenings,' Marg R.V.)" (Exod. 12:6). This needs to be emphasized in respect to Christ the Lamb of God, for there are some who maintain from Christian pulpits that we should emphasize the perfect life of Christ and seek to get men to follow His example. We should not stress the shed blood of Christ. Some go so far as to refer to the atonement as "a good doctrine for the slums," or to declare that "Substitutionary . . . . atonement is artificial and immoral." But the Paschal lamb must be slain and the blood must be applied to the doorpost and to the side posts. So also must the blood of the Lamb of God be shed and applied, "and without shedding of blood is no remission (Heb. 9:22). Hence, it was not enough for Christ to live a perfect life; He must also die a vicarious death.

We now note that the Passover lamb was a substitute. Either the lamb must die or the firstborn must die (Exod. 12:12-13, 29). So also was the Lamb of God a substitutionary sacrifice as John pointed out when he invited the Jews of his day to ''Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). When one child of God was asked how it felt to be saved, he replied: "It feels as though Jesus stood in my shoes and I stood in His." This is evidently the meaning of Paul's statement: "For He hath made Him to be sin for us Who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor. 5:21).

We pass on to the consideration of the sustaining nature of the Passover lamb, for the Israelites were to "eat of the flesh in that night, roast with fire" (Exod. 12:8). So likewise, the believer in Christ not only is sheltered from judgment by the blood of the Lamb, but he is sustained by feeding on the Lamb (I Peter 2:1-2). Through daily fellowship with Christ he is strengthened and sustained on life's journey.

The next point for consideration is the saving character of the lamb. When the blood of the lamb was shed and applied with hyssop to the lintel and to the sideposts of the door the firstborn need not fear the coming midnight judgment death, for God's promise was, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt" (Exod. 12:13). So also may the trusting sinner face the coming judgment without fear because of the redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for it is written that "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7). We do well to remember the true words of J. Wilbur Chapman in this connection: "It is not our estimate of the blood of Christ that saves, but God's estimate. He did not say, 'When you see the blood, I will pass over you,' but 'When I see the blood I will pass over you.' "

Last of all, we observe that the Passover lamb was sacred. None of the flesh was to be carried from the house, nor was a bone of it to be broken (Exod. 12:46). This passage is quoted in connection with the dark scene of the Crucifixion. The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus to hasten their death and then came to Jesus only to find Him dead. To be sure of His death, they pierced His side with a spear and blood and water came forth. John, the beloved disciple, stood and watched this dread procedure and bore record concerning it. And it was he who added this illuminating statement: "For these things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken" (John 19:36).

We believe that a further word could be added regarding the sacredness of the Lamb of God. Two secret disciples, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, who had come to Jesus at night, came to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Lovingly they took His body and wrapped it in linen clothes with the spices. Then they laid Him in Joseph's own new tomb where no man had ever lain. They counted Him sacred and precious. They did what they could for Him. May we, too, count Him sacred and precious, and do what we can for Him.

1) Achie H. Yetter is Director of the Bible Institute of Denver Bible College, and is in demand as a Bible conference speaker.