Ex. 12-13
The Bible is a very intricate story. It is full of pictures within pictures of God’s Plan – like the layers of an onion. It is utterly fascinating. The Passover is a foreshadowing of Jesus and His work on the cross. If you ever study the feast itself, you will see that it is rich with symbolism of The Christ. But the Passover is just one piece in a bigger picture. When combined with all the commanded feasts, God shows us His entire Plan for the redemption of all mankind (we went through a fascinating study on the feasts of God in Bible Study a few years back – very interesting).
Also, not just the Passover feast, but the event itself and all the circumstances leading up to it (the slavery in Egypt etc.) paint their own picture of the human condition and God’s Plan to address it. Even the Jews themselves – they are God’s Chosen from among the rest of us, but they are also a picture of all of us who are Chosen by God and set apart from the rest of the world. Layers. Fascinating. I don’t know how anybody can familiarize themselves to any degree with this Book and not see God’s hand all over it and in all of His-story.
Matt. 26:1-35
And here we are with Jesus at Passover. He has just finished talking extensively with His disciples about being ready, waiting for the Master’s return. Remember how the Jews left Egypt in haste; how they were to eat the Passover feast dressed and with their sandals on their feet? They were ready…waiting.
It is no coincidence that Jesus was taken to be crucified on Passover night. The same can be said of the timing of everything that happens to Him. How can I see these things and not believe? And how can I not fully trust the One who orchestrated all of this? I think this is one reason that it is so important to be consistently in God’s Word – because it keeps questions and observations like that at the forefront of our minds. Then when we face difficulties or temptations we automatically say, “oh, yeah – that God I have been reading about who did all these things and put all of this together, THAT is the God in whose hands my life rests; THAT is the God whom I desire to serve.” And that knowledge affects our decisions and our attitudes as we face those difficult things.