What Is the Passover Sacrifice?

Short Answer: The purpose of the Messiah's first coming was to bring atonement to Elohim's people through His sacrificial death. As part of this purpose, the writings of Scripture and the timing of the events reveal that the original Egyptian Passover was a prophecy of a much greater event. This prophecy was fulfilled in exacting detail as the Messiah was sacrificed, unbroken, on the fourteenth day of the first month. The blood of the true sacrificial lamb, the Messiah, would remove believers from the slavery and bondage of eternal death.

"And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped." Ex 12:26-27 KJV

Fulfilling Promises and Covenants Not enough can be said about this pivotal moment in history where the Messiah fulfilled His role as Savior and took upon Himself the sin of man kind. Many of the promises and covenants made by Elohim hinge on this point in time to fulfill the concepts of making believers His special people both now and for eternity.

Prophecy in Adam and Eve Prophecies and foreshadowings of the Messiah begin very early in Scripture. In fact, what might be the first such picture comes before there is even a sinful act and a need for a savior. The Scriptures state that'"it is not good for man to be alone' and then describe how Adam was put into a deep sleep, his side was opened, flesh (some say a rib) was taken out, and this was fashioned into his wife. Likewise we can see that Messiah was put to death (like a deep sleep), His side was pierced (opened up), blood and water came out, and the believer is purified and made spotless by His blood which was shed so as to make the believer qualified to become His bride.

Prophecy with Abraham and Isaac In a blood covenant, such as Elohim made with Abraham, one must do everything one is able in order to keep the covenant - even to the extent of risking his children's life (Gen 15:7-18). An incredible challenge was given as Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac (Gen 22:2). But the events become prophetic of the crucifixion of the Messiah. Isaac had done no wrong, Isaac was the one through whom was the promise to bless all nations, Isaac was a miraculous son (of old age), the sacrifice was in the land of Moriah (meaning chosen by Yah) and later became the site of the Temple by Solomon. The wood was placed on Isaac to carry (Gen 22:6), Abraham prophecies that Yahveh will provide the lamb for the sacrifice (Gen 22:8), a ram with its horns is caught in a thicket (or 'crown') of thorns (Gen 22:13), the place is called Yahveh-Yirah meaning Yahveh is seen (Gen 22:14).

Other Prophecies In Psalm 22 we read of the agony and grief associated with this type of death, including details specific to His death . Yet, Yahshuah gives praise to the

Father and looks forward to the deliverance and satisfaction that will come and instructs Israel to fear and honor Yahveh.

"yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." Is 53:10 KJV In Isaiah 53 we read an incredible description of the role of the Savior's sacrifice. It includes not only details of His suffering, but the great results which follow. These show that He CHOSE to go through this suffering for each one of us. He had the power to call 12 legions of angels, therefore, He surely had the power to walk away ... but He took the suffering to bring about our righteousness.

Passover Instructions The scriptural instructions for this day are few and simple. Each family is to take a lamb and slaughter it on the 14th day of the 1st month. That night, it is to be eaten with bitter herbs while the person stands and is dressed ready to go passas a reminder of how Israel left Egypt in haste. Once they entered the promised land, the people were instructed to make the sacrifice not in their homes, but in the place where YHVH would set His name. This was instructed to be done throughout the ages as a memorial because this was the night that Israel was taken out of Egypt.

Egyptian Passover In Egypt, the time of Passover was the culmination of the work Yahveh was doing to bring the Nation of Israel out of the bondage and slavery it suffered under Egyptian rule. The plague of the death of the firstborn was to be the final act that would force the Egyptians to drive Israel away to freedom. The blood of the Passover sacrifice was chosen to protect the Israelite children from the deadly plague. On the tenth day of the first month a lamb of the first year was chosen and watched for four days to make sure it was without blemish. On the fourteenth day of the first month, it was to be sacrificed and its blood placed on the doorposts of the houses of Israel. This would be the sign that the Destroying Angel was to pass over that house and leave the people unharmed.

Messiah's Sacrifice / Crucifixion The writings of Scripture and the timing of the events reveal that the original Passover was a foreshadowing of something much greater. The true sacrificial lamb, the Messiah, would shed His blood to remove believers from the slavery and bondage of eternal death. This prophecy was fulfilled in exacting detail as the Messiah was sacrificed on the fourteenth day of the first month. It is Yahshua's blood that covers us and allows us to be 'passed over' by death because of sin.

Last Supper is Not the Passover There has been much confusion regarding the relationship of the Last Supper to the Passover Sacrifice. To be clear, they are not the same thing. Some traditions have said the Communion Meal has either replaced the Passover or was the Passover or even a part of the Rabbinic Passover Seder. However, the evidence shows that these two events could not be the same. The Passover was to be eaten with unleavened bread (azumos) while Communion is eaten with leavened bread (artos). The Passover occurs once a year while communion is held as often as believers get together. The two events are linked because He gave a promise of returning just before going away, but they are two separate events.