Read: Matthew 26:26-29
. . . poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (v. 28)
Centuries before that Last Supper, God’s people had lived under oppressive slavery in Egypt. God sent Moses and did mighty wonders to break the power of Pharaoh (Exodus 7-12). After nine plagues, God told every Israelite to choose a spotless lamb for their family, to kill the lamb, and put its blood on the doorposts of their home.
At the Passover, the blood of the lamb on the doorposts averted the tenth plague—death of the firstborn. When Jesus headed to Jerusalem at Passover, he accomplished the greater Passover. All the lambs that were sacrificed pointed ahead to the great “Lamb of God” who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). This Lamb would have his blood painted, not on the wooden doorframe of houses in Egypt, but upon the wood of a cross outside Jerusalem. This Lamb wouldn’t guard the people from physical death but from the second, eternal death.
Jesus is the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7). It’s no accident he was crucified during the festival where the lamb was sacrificed to remember how God protected his people from death and delivered them from oppression. It was no accident Jesus sat at that Passover meal and said of the cup, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (v. 28). The true Passover Lamb has come. By trusting in the Savior whose blood was shed on the cross, both Jews and Gentiles are covered and delivered from the judgment.
As you pray, trust in Jesus whose blood was shed for you.
About the Author
Stephen Shaffer is the pastor at Bethel Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario.
