Lesson 5: Passover
5.3 Pesach
Sign of the Blood, Sign of Redemption
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Introduction
Why blood? This is a question many people ask when they read the biblical sacrificial laws or hear of Jesus as the βLamb of God.β For us, blood often symbolizes pain, death, or violence. But in the Bible, it is the deepest sign of lifeβand of salvation.
At the center of the Passover feast is blood. It was the visible sign of faith and at the same time Godβs answer to judgment. The Israelites werenβt spared because they were better than the Egyptiansβbut because they believed Godβs word and applied the blood to their doorposts.
This lesson leads us into the heart of the Gospel: Only through the sacrifice of anotherβthe pure, spotless lambβcan a person be saved. And this lamb is Christ.
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Bible Study: Exodus 12:17β23
1. Context: A Sacred Moment Before Judgment
Verses 17β23 appear in one of the most dramatic parts of the Bible: the final night before Israel’s departure from slavery. God, through Moses, had repeatedly announced that the death of the firstborns was imminentβGodβs judgment over Egypt, the symbol of an oppressive world power.
Yet in the middle of this somber announcement, God shifts the focus away from judgment toward salvationβand toward the sign that guarantees that salvation: the blood of a lamb.
These verses form the theological heart of the Passoverβand a prophetic picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Verse-by-Verse Explanation
Verse 17: βCelebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt.β
God gives Israel a memorial festivalβnot after salvation, but while it is happening.
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are not merely commemorations but part of the saving event itself. Remembrance is part of redemption.
Here, God begins shaping Israelβs identity as a people of memory and gratitude.
Verses 18β20: βFor seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast…β
In this context, yeast (leaven) symbolizes the old wayβsin, pride, corruption, decay.
Removing the leaven is not just a household taskβit is a spiritual act of sanctification: detachment from the old, readiness for the new.
Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 5:6β8: βGet rid of the old yeastβ¦ celebrate the festival with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.β
Application: Godβs deliverance is not only external (from Egypt), but also internalβHe wants to remove βleaven-thinkingβ from us.
Verses 21β22: βGo at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood…β
God gives concrete instructionsβnot abstract piety, but clear acts of faith.
The lamb must be sacrificed. A life for a life.
The blood is visibly applied to the doorframeβwith a bunch of hyssop, a bitter herb associated in the Bible with purification (e.g., Psalm 51:7: βCleanse me with hyssopβ¦β)
Symbolism:
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Lamb: Purity, innocence, substitution (cf. Isaiah 53:7)
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Blood: Protection, life, atonement
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Doorposts: The thresholdβtransition from death to life
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House: The community of believers sheltered under the blood
Verse 23: βThe LORD will pass through to strike Egyptβ¦ But when He sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, He will pass over that doorwayβ¦β
The judgment applies to allβIsraelites and Egyptiansβunless they are under the blood.
It is God Himself who passes throughβnot a βdeath angel,β but the LORD. It is His judgmentβbut He spares where there is faith.
The word pass over (Hebrew: pasach) is the origin of Pesach β Passover.
The blood does not change Godβbut marks the place of faith. God passes over because death has already occurredβupon the lamb.
3. Theological Depth: Why Blood?
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Blood = Life (Leviticus 17:11): The life of a being is in the blood. When blood is shed, life is given.
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Atonement requires blood (Hebrews 9:22): βWithout the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.β
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Substitution: The lamb dies in place of the personβa core principle of divine grace.
Typology: Passover is a foreshadowing of the cross:
Passover Element | Fulfilled in Christ |
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The Lamb | Jesus, βLamb of Godβ (John 1:29) |
The Blood | His death on the cross |
The Doorposts | Public confession of faith |
The Salvation | βWhoever believesβ¦ shall not perishβ (John 3:16) |
4. Spiritual Meaning of the Passover Blood Today
No animal needs to be sacrificed today, because Christ has made the final offering (Hebrews 10:10). But faith in the blood remains central. It is not the symbol that savesβbut what the symbol points to: Jesusβ sacrifice on the cross.
Whoever trusts in the blood of Christ is under divine protectionβnot just from external threats but from eternal death.
The βapplicationβ of blood today is our confession of faithβour personal decision to claim Jesusβ death for ourselves.
5. Historical and Practical Aspect: The Birth of Israelβs Identity
Passover is not only theologically importantβit also establishes Israelβs national identity as a covenant people. United under the blood, united in the meal, united in their exodus.
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Family Meal: Everyone should take part. No one is alone. Faith is passed onβfrom parents to children.
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Eternal Remembrance: God wants this event to be remembered every yearβbecause faith grows through remembrance.
Christianity continues this through the Lordβs Supper: βDo this in remembrance of Meβ (Luke 22:19).
Summary: What Exodus 12:17β23 Teaches Us
Element | Meaning |
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Unleavened Bread | Sanctification, separation from the old |
Lamb | Substitution, purity, image of Christ |
Blood | Protection, atonement, life |
Hyssop | Purification, repentance |
Doorposts | Confession, boundary between death and life |
Household | Unity in faith, transmission of promise |
Remembrance | Faith grows through conscious memory |
Godβs Judgment | Serious, yet merciful |
Conclusion of the Extended Bible Study
Exodus 12:17β23 is more than a ritual regulationβit is the Gospel in symbols. The red thread of redemption running through all of Scripture becomes visible here:
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Guilt is realβand has consequences.
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But God provides a way outβthrough the blood of an innocent substitute.
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Those who humbly place themselves under this protection are secureβnow and forever.
The Passover blood was not only effective in Egyptβit points to the cross at Calvary, where the true Lamb of God shed His blood for us.
The most important question for us today is not: βWhy blood?β
But: βAm I under the blood of Christ?β
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Answers to the Questions
Question 1: Read Exodus 12:17β23. What role does blood play in celebrating this new festival?
Blood plays a central, life-determining role in the celebration of Passover. It is more than a ritual elementβit is the decisive marker between life and death, between judgment and grace, between Egypt and the people of God.
God Himself says in Exodus 12:13:
βThe blood will be a sign for youβ¦ When I see the blood, I will pass over you.β
This is revolutionary:
Not origin, nationality, or ancestryβbut the visible sign of blood on the doorposts determines life or death.
Why is the blood so important?
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Blood represents life (Leviticus 17:11):
βThe life of the flesh is in the bloodβ¦ I have given it to you to make atonement.β
Blood symbolizes life given for another life. -
Blood means substitution:
The lamb dies so the firstborn does not.
β The heart of the Gospel: Innocent blood covers human guilt. -
Blood is a sign of faith:
Applying the blood to the door was a public act of trust.
The family was saying: βWe believe Godβs word. We obey, even if it seems illogical or risky.β
β It was not just the lamb that savedβbut the faith, made visible through the blood. -
Blood is a shield in judgment:
That same night, countless firstborns died in Egyptβbut not one death occurred where the blood was present.
β The difference wasnβt moral statusβbut the presence of the blood.
Typologically, the blood points to Jesus:
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John the Baptist called Jesus: βThe Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.β (John 1:29)
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Paul wrote: βChrist, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.β (1 Cor 5:7)
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Peter added: ββ¦redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.β (1 Peter 1:18β19)
Conclusion:
The Passover is not just about remembering the escape from Egyptβbut about the Gospel in symbolic form.
The blood says: βAnother dies in my place.β And God sees that bloodβand spares.
Question 2: To atone for sin, the blood of JesusβGodβs own bloodβwas required. What does this show us about the seriousness of sin?
This question goes to the very heart of the Gospelβand of our view of God and humanity. In a world where sin is often trivialized, the Bible reveals:
Sin is deadly. And it is so profound that only Godβs own life could atone for it.
The price of forgiveness is not a gentle βItβs okayββbut the blood of Jesus.
Not the blood of an animal. Not a prayer. Not a good deed. But the death of Godβs holy Son on the cross.
What do we learn from this?
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Sin is not harmlessβit is deadly:
βThe wages of sin is death.β (Romans 6:23)
Not just physical death, but eternal separation from God.β If there had been another way to save humanity, God would have avoided the cross.
β The cross proves sin is no minor issue. -
Sin destroys relationshipβwith God and others:
In Eden, one act of disobedience expelled humanity from Godβs presence.
β Every sin is, at its core, rebellion against God’s rule. -
Only a perfect sacrifice could atone:
Old Testament sacrifices had to be spotlessβbut they could not save permanently.
βIt is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.β (Hebrews 10:4)Thatβs why Jesus cameβsinless, but willing to bear our punishment.
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Jesusβ crucifixion shows how seriously God takes sin:
God could have judged humanity outright.
But instead, He chose self-sacrifice: The Son of God diesβfor the sinner.The cross is the ultimate proof of both Godβs justice and His love:
ββ¦so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.β (Romans 3:25β26)
God does not downplay sinβbut He forgives because He paid the price Himself.
Sin is so grave, only God’s blood could cover it.
You are so loved, God was willing to shed it.
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Spiritual Principles
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Salvation comes only through the bloodβnot works, heritage, or knowledge.
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Faith becomes visible through obedienceβlike applying the blood to the doorposts.
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Sin is seriousβit costs life. But grace is greaterβit gives life.
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Christ is our true Passover LambβHis blood protects us from eternal judgment.
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Rituals can healβwhen combined with heart, faith, and remembrance.
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Application for Daily Life
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Be honest about your sinβand take refuge under Christβs blood.
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Talk to your children about the meaning of the Lordβs Supperβit is our Passover.
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Donβt allow βyeastβ in your life: jealousy, pride, unforgivenessβclean house.
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Believe Godβs grace is bigger than your pastβand celebrate that!
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When you take Communion, do it with this awareness: You live because He died.
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Conclusion
Passover is not an ancient ritualβit is a living testimony. It calls out to us:
Trust the blood! Take refuge under the sign of grace. And move forwardβfree from guilt, ready to live in Godβs presence.
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Thought of the Day
“It is not our effort that saves us from destructionβbut the blood of Another.”
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Illustration β βThe Red Threadβ
A story about guilt, protection, and an old coat
Setting: Manila, Philippines β Present Day
Prologue β The Sirenβs Echo
Outside, the typhoon raged. The shutters rattled like the rhythm of fear. Above the rooftops of the slums, sirens wailed. People fled into emergency sheltersβnot for the first time. But this time was different. Authorities warned: βThis will not be an ordinary storm.β
Mariah, 17, pulled her little brother Joel tightly against her. Their mother had abandoned the family, their father had passed away. Mariah was what the neighbors called βthe strong oneββbecause she held everything together. But now, even she was shaking.
Chapter 1 β The Old Garment
In one of the boxes they had grabbed while fleeing, Mariah found her fatherβs red coatβworn and frayed, but still warm. Her father had always worn it when praying after work.
Mariah remembered his words:
“If you’re ever afraid, hide under the red. It’s like God’s bloodβit covers what you don’t understand.”
Back then, she had laughed. Now, she cried.
Chapter 2 β The Flood
That night, the river burst its banks. The emergency shelter was flooded. People screamed, children clung to mattresses, doorsβanything that could float.
Mariah frantically searched for Joel. When she found him, he was standing on a rooftop shouting, βThe wind tore the roofs off!β
She pulled him close, wrapped him in the red coat, and held him tightly.
Chapter 3 β The Sign
The next morning, everything was destroyedβexcept for their tiny home. Mud, debris, shattered lives everywhere. But a rescue team found them safe and unharmed. When they freed them from the coat, one of the helpers asked:
“How is it that the tree didnβt fall on your house?”
Another said: βThereβs something about this placeβ¦ something protective.β
Later, Mariah hung the coat on the front door. Not out of superstitionβbut as a reminder. Of grace. Of protection. Of a blood that was not merely symbolicβbut truly saves.
Epilogue β A New Generation
Years later, Joel became the pastor of a small church. Above the entrance hung the red coatβin a frame. Below it were the words:
βWhen I see the blood, I will pass over you.β β Exodus 12:13
Core Message of the Story:
Just like the blood on the doorposts of the Israelites during the night of judgment, today the blood of Christ is our protection.
We survive not because we are strong, but because someone stronger died in our place.
Passover teaches:
What covers you, saves you.
And Christ is enough.
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-5-passover-5-3-pesach-exodus-living-faith/