Discovering Grace: The Passover Lamb's Shadow of Salvation
Numbers 9:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the Passover unto the LORD.
There were certain ceremonies with which the unclean were not permitted to participate under the Mosaic law of the Old Testament. It is, then, no wonder that the question was raised to Moses exactly what to do in a situation where a man touched a dead body, thereby defiling himself. The inquirer no doubt had concerns that, should he make an assumption either way that was not the will of The Lord, then his very life might be endangered. So, to be sure, he asked Moses, and Moses in response asked The Lord, and our text verse is The Lord’s response.
I selected this to be the verse of focus today because of the long term and prophetic elements and implications found herein. Know first that the Passover was a shadow of the work that Christ would complete on Calvary. Just as the death angel passed by those who had the blood applied to their doorposts, so eternal death in hell passes by all whose hearts have had the blood of the Lamb of God applied by faith!
If you look at verse twelve, you will also notice that, just as they were not to leave any of the Passover unto the morning, even so the Bread of Life who hanged on the tree was not left overnight, but was taken down to be prepared for his temporary burial. Also, you will note that just as not one bone would be allowed to be broken, so also not one of Christ’s bones were broken on the cross, so that He would fulfill the prophecy of Scriptures as THE Passover Lamb that would take away the sins of the entire world.
Now, having said that, I can now point out to you the reason why verse ten is so significant. It is significant because, even as the defiled were required to still participate in the feast of the Passover in the Old Testament, so also are the defiled required today to participate in the redemptive plan of Calvary for remission of their sins. In other words, your defilement or your uncleanness does not eliminate your ability to become a recipient of the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice, but rather they are the reason you CAN partake of His grace!
Sinner friend, do not think that your defilement or your distance are too filthy or too far for God’s reach. Just as you are, right where you are, Christ the Passover Lamb will cleanse you of your sins and make you accepted in His beloved family, if you will with repentant heart confess your sins to Him, and receive by faith His forgiveness and salvation.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
There were certain ceremonies with which the unclean were not permitted to participate under the Mosaic law of the Old Testament. It is, then, no wonder that the question was raised to Moses exactly what to do in a situation where a man touched a dead body, thereby defiling himself. The inquirer no doubt had concerns that, should he make an assumption either way that was not the will of The Lord, then his very life might be endangered. So, to be sure, he asked Moses, and Moses in response asked The Lord, and our text verse is The Lord’s response.
I selected this to be the verse of focus today because of the long term and prophetic elements and implications found herein. Know first that the Passover was a shadow of the work that Christ would complete on Calvary. Just as the death angel passed by those who had the blood applied to their doorposts, so eternal death in hell passes by all whose hearts have had the blood of the Lamb of God applied by faith!
If you look at verse twelve, you will also notice that, just as they were not to leave any of the Passover unto the morning, even so the Bread of Life who hanged on the tree was not left overnight, but was taken down to be prepared for his temporary burial. Also, you will note that just as not one bone would be allowed to be broken, so also not one of Christ’s bones were broken on the cross, so that He would fulfill the prophecy of Scriptures as THE Passover Lamb that would take away the sins of the entire world.
Now, having said that, I can now point out to you the reason why verse ten is so significant. It is significant because, even as the defiled were required to still participate in the feast of the Passover in the Old Testament, so also are the defiled required today to participate in the redemptive plan of Calvary for remission of their sins. In other words, your defilement or your uncleanness does not eliminate your ability to become a recipient of the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice, but rather they are the reason you CAN partake of His grace!
Sinner friend, do not think that your defilement or your distance are too filthy or too far for God’s reach. Just as you are, right where you are, Christ the Passover Lamb will cleanse you of your sins and make you accepted in His beloved family, if you will with repentant heart confess your sins to Him, and receive by faith His forgiveness and salvation.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill