Exodus 12:13 – And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Introduction
Tonight’s sermon, God’s Passover, brings us face to face with the divine design God instituted in Exodus 12 and how that ancient ordinance points directly to Christ and to the ordinances of the New Testament church. Dr. Terry LeQuieu walks us through the Passover — its lamb, its blood, its symbolism, and its eternal meaning — with the goal of strengthening our faith and helping every believer see the continuity of Scripture from the Old Testament to the New. As we prepare to partake of the Lord’s Supper, this message calls us to examine, receive, and remember the blood of Christ.
We are going to be doing the Lord’s Supper here in just a little while. And so we are going to look at the origin of the Lord’s Supper here in the Old Testament. Exodus, chapter twelve. When you get there, go ahead and stand with me. The title of tonight’s message is God’s Passover. God’s Passover.
Outline
- The Sacrifice Provided
- Chosen Lamb
Every family was instructed to select a lamb according to their household (Exodus 12:3). This emphasizes a personal responsibility to obtain and offer the sacrifice — a shadow of the personal appropriation each of us must make of Christ’s sacrifice.
- Collected Lamb
If a household was too small, neighboring families were to share the lamb (Exodus 12:4). Salvation is deeply personal, yet God’s provision can be shared and applied within the family unit — parents leading and serving as spiritual heads.
- Clean Lamb
The lamb was to be without blemish, a male of the first year (Exodus 12:5). This typifies Christ’s sinless perfection: a spotless, acceptable offering, the only adequate substitute for our sins (see also Isaiah 53; 1 Pet. 1:18–19).
- Consecrated and Crushed Lamb
The lamb was kept until the appointed time and then slain (Exodus 12:6). That death was not pretty — it was bloody and costly — and it foreshadows the bruising and suffering of Christ (Isaiah 53:5). The lamb’s consecration points to God’s sovereign plan and the lamb’s death to substitutionary atonement.
- Chosen Lamb
- The Savior’s Power
- Covering by Blood
The blood struck on the lintel and doorposts served as the sign by which the death-angel would pass over the house (Exodus 12:7). It was not a clean, light touch but a visible, messy application — symbolizing that salvation is by the shed blood of Christ, and it covers the sinner fully.
- Consumption with Purpose
The Israelites were to eat the lamb in a specific way — roasted, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs — and to eat in haste (Exodus 12:8–11). The manner of eating underscores obedience, attentiveness, and purposeful remembrance. Likewise, the Lord’s Supper requires reverence and a heart prepared by confession (1 Cor. 11:27–29).
- Preparation and Readiness
The call to eat with loins girded and shoes on (Exodus 12:11) pictures urgency and readiness. Spiritually, the believer ought always to be ready to meet the Lord (cf. Luke 12:35–40) and to serve in His cause.
- Covering by Blood
- The Substitution Promised
- Sentence of Judgment
God pronounced judgment upon the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 12:12). That sentence demonstrates God’s holy wrath against sin and the justice that must be satisfied.
- Substitute’s Effect
The blood as token on the door caused God to pass over the house (Exodus 12:13). The Passover is a vivid picture of substitution — the blood takes the place of the sinner and averts the rightful judgment that would otherwise fall.
- Unchanged Doctrine of Salvation
Dr. LeQuieu stresses that Old Testament saints were saved the same way New Testament saints are: by faith looking forward to Christ’s work, and we look back to the finished work (Hebrews 11; Romans 3:22–25).
- Sentence of Judgment
- The Sacrament Instituted
- Memorial and Ordinance
Exodus 12:14 calls the Passover a memorial and an ordinance to be observed perpetually. The preacher connects this to the New Testament ordinances — baptism and the Lord’s Supper — which the church keeps in remembrance of Christ (1 Cor. 11:23–26).
- Removal of Leaven — Cleansing
The seven-day feast of unleavened bread required removal of all leaven (Exodus 12:15). Leaven is biblical symbolism for sin, so this cleansing typology points us to confession and holiness when we partake of the Lord’s Supper.
- Convocation — Called Out Assembly
Exodus 12:16 uses the Hebrew word mikra (convocation), meaning “called out assembly.” The Greek New Testament calls the church ekklesia — similarly “a calling out.” This foreshadows the church’s existence and the Lord’s Supper as an ordinance of the called-out assembly.
- Memorial and Ordinance
- The Salvation Performed
- Application by Each Household
Every man was responsible to strike the blood on his doorpost (Exodus 12:21–23). Spiritually, each person must personally receive Christ; family members cannot substitute for one another in salvation.
- Realized, Received, Remembered
Dr. LeQuieu draws three practical requirements: salvation must be realized (understood as necessary), received (personally embraced), and remembered (recounted and worshipped). These are vital steps in both personal faith and family discipleship (Exodus 12:24–27).
- Perpetual Ordinance and Teaching
The Passover was to be taught to the children as a memorial (Exodus 12:24–27). This shows the importance of remembering and telling future generations what God has done — the same impulse that drives baptism and the Lord’s Supper in the church.
- Application by Each Household
Summary
God’s Passover is not merely an Old Testament ritual; it is an ordained picture pointing directly to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The lamb was chosen, collected, clean, consecrated, and crushed — all foreshadowing Christ’s sinless life and substitutionary death. The application of blood on the doorposts was a visible sign of God’s passing over judgment, and the feast was an ordinance meant to cleanse and to call God’s people into a holy assembly. The Passover shows continuity between the Old and New Testaments: the way of salvation is the same — by the shed blood of the Lamb — and the Lord’s Supper is the church’s ordained memorial of that saving work.
When I see the blood, I will pass over you.
Application for the Week
As we prepare to observe the Lord’s Supper, let these practical, week-long actions guide your heart and life to align with the truths of God’s Passover:
- Examine Yourself
Take time each morning this week to honestly examine your heart (1 Corinthians 11:28). Confess known sin and ask God to cleanse you by the blood of Christ. Do not rush this step — the Lord’s Supper is a time of intimate remembrance.
- Remember and Tell
Write down the story of your salvation. Practice telling it to a family member or friend. If you cannot remember the precise day, pause and ask God to remind you of the reality of your conversion — then be ready to explain what Christ has done (Exodus 12:26–27).
- Prepare Your Home
Like removing the leaven, identify small things in your life that harbor sin (bitterness, hidden anger, hypocrisy) and remove them. Confess and repent so your spiritual house is clear and ready for the Lord’s Supper and for service.
- Teach the Next Generation
Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or mentor, plan a short, simple explanation you can share with a young person this week about why Christ’s blood matters. Use Exodus 12 and the Gospel accounts to show continuity and hope.
- Prepare to Participate Worthily
Plan to participate in the Lord’s Supper with seriousness: confess, reconcile with others if needed, and come with a thankful heart. Remember that the ordinance is for the local assembly of those who acknowledge Christ (closed observance) — honor that practice as an expression of biblical order.
- Pray for Boldness and Readiness
Pray daily this week for boldness to live as one covered by the blood and for readiness to meet the Lord. Ask God to make you useful in His work, with your loins girded and your shoes on (Luke 12:35; Exodus 12:11).
If you are uncertain whether the blood has been applied to your life, or if you have never personally received Christ, do not delay — come to someone you trust in the church leadership this week. Let us help you understand and embrace the Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ.
May God bless and strengthen you as you remember His sacrifice and walk in the power of the blood.
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