The First Instruction
We all know the story of the Israelite’s escape from Pharaoh of Egypt found in the book of Exodus. This is where the custom of the Biblical Feasts was instituted, and is foundational to the faith we now practice as Christians.
As we know, through the hand of Moses nine plagues were inflicted by the Lord upon the people of Egypt in an attempt to force the hand of Pharaoh to let God’s people leave Egypt to worship Him. The tenth infliction, we will consider a judgement of the Lord, as it was the final act that would secure their release.
And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.
Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again.
Exodus 11:1-6 NKJV
Through this series on the biblical feasts I will focus more on the God patterns and prophetic significance more than the traditions that man had developed over the centuries. For instance, did you know Jews were known to sell their pets before Passover?
Anyway, let’s move on to the Lord’s first instruction to the children of Israel in instituting the first holiday in this series.
Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. 4And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.
Exodus 12:1-6 NKJV
Notice the mature male lamb was selected for the Passover event four days before it was due to be slaughtered as a sacrifice for protecting the firstborn males of Israel–both human and animal. Now let’s move on the the Gospels.
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”
So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”
And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!”
Mark 11:1-10 NKJV
Jesus, in the pattern of the first Passover, selected the lamb for slaughter four days before the sacrifice was to take place. This sacrifice however would not be limited to the firstborn of Israel–but for anyone who chooses to accept the atoning work of the cross.
The pattern of the selection of the lamb was fulfilled and the King of the Jews was crucified four days later, mid-afternoon on Thursday.
As tradition Christians celebrate this event on Palm Sunday.
The significance of this event begins centuries before it happened. The Gospel writers are careful to note that this wasn’t a random choice of transportation; it was a deliberate fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy.
Zechariah 9:9 NKJV “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.