I'll give credit to my friend, Eric Huntsman, of the BYU Religion Department, the source of some of these ideas, which we gleaned from Education Week and also his marvelous book, God So Loved the World.
The days match between the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars, something that rarely happens, so the Passover beginning, Nisan the 14th is also April 14th this year.
On the 10th (last Thursday) we would select the paschal lamb, a male of the first year without blemish, to meet the symbolic requirement described by Peter, who said,
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
The paschal lamb would be slain this evening, on the 14th day of Nisan (or Abib).
Many of the events in the last week of the Savior's mortal life were foretold by symbols of the Passover.
1. Examining for Blemishes
Between the 10th and 14th days of Nisan the paschal lambs would be examined for any defects. If we move the birth date of the Savior from December to April 6th, as recorded in Doctrine and Covenants, section 20, verse 1, and reaffirmed by Elder Bednar last week in conference, the Christmas story in Luke becomes clearer:
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:8). It makes sense that shepherds would be watching over their flocks during the Passover season to make sure they remain safe and free from any blemish or injury.
But even more significant are the events in the corresponding final week of the Savior's life. While shepherds were carefully examining the paschal lambs during these three days before Passover, scribes, Pharisees, and chief priests were examining and cross-examining the real Paschal Lamb, our Savior Jesus Christ. These were among the questions that the Pharisees, chief priests, and others were asking during these three days before Passover. The irony here is remarkable.
"And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?" (Matthew 21:23).
"Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?" (Matthew 22:17).
"Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
And last of all the woman died also.
Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her." (Matthew 22:25-28).
"Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:35-36).
2. Blood on the Side and Upper Door Posts
The children of Israel were commanded to take the blood of the paschal lambs and strike it upon the two side posts and the upper door post, or lintel, allowing such homes to be passed over. Israel was saved by the blood of the lambs (Exodus 12:13). The vertical side posts adjoined to the upper post would form the horizontal and vertical beams of a cross. At the crucifixion of Christ, blood, water, and spirit all left the Savior's body. In other scripture, blood, water, and Spirit are components of birth and spiritual rebirth. Thus, the wooden cross is transformed into a tree of life (see John 19:34).
In the Book of Moses we read: "That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory" (Moses 6:59).
3. Eaten With Bitter Herbs
"And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it" (Exodus 12:8). This can symbolize the bitterness of Egyptian bondage, but it's also relevant to our Savior's mission. When Jesus visited the Nephites upon the American Continent after His resurrection, He said:
"And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning" (3 Nephi 11:11).
4. Hyssop Dipped in Blood
"And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning" (Exodus 12:22).
Hyssop was used in ritual cleansing of lepers in Leviticus 14, but during the crucifixion vinegar was given to our Lord while on the cross and it was "put . . . upon hyssop, and put . . . to his mouth" (John 19:29). Hyssop has close connections with the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
5. No Broken Bones
The Israelites were commanded to not break any bones in the paschal lambs. When the Roman soldiers approached Jesus on the cross the scripture states:
"Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
"But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs.
"For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken." (John 19:32-33,36).
John is careful to record all these events so you can't miss the idea that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Paschal Lamb.
6. Timing of the Death of Jesus
The Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, said that on Passover the paschal lambs were brought to the temple courtyard at 3 o'clock in the afternoon to be slain. John chapter 13 begins by saying,
"Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him" (John 13:1-2). John never calls this Last Supper a Passover meal as the other Gospels do. So if this Thursday night supper is the evening before actual Passover, and if the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are correct when they say Jesus died at the ninth hour, which would be 3 o'clock in the afternoon (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44), then there is an incredible irony here! At the exact moment when the paschal lambs are being slain in the temple courtyard, the real Paschal Lamb is voluntarily surrendering His life to rescue you and me!
"And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning" (3 Nephi 11:11).
4. Hyssop Dipped in Blood
"And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning" (Exodus 12:22).
Hyssop was used in ritual cleansing of lepers in Leviticus 14, but during the crucifixion vinegar was given to our Lord while on the cross and it was "put . . . upon hyssop, and put . . . to his mouth" (John 19:29). Hyssop has close connections with the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
5. No Broken Bones
The Israelites were commanded to not break any bones in the paschal lambs. When the Roman soldiers approached Jesus on the cross the scripture states:
"Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
"But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs.
"For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken." (John 19:32-33,36).
John is careful to record all these events so you can't miss the idea that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Paschal Lamb.
6. Timing of the Death of Jesus
The Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, said that on Passover the paschal lambs were brought to the temple courtyard at 3 o'clock in the afternoon to be slain. John chapter 13 begins by saying,
"Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him" (John 13:1-2). John never calls this Last Supper a Passover meal as the other Gospels do. So if this Thursday night supper is the evening before actual Passover, and if the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are correct when they say Jesus died at the ninth hour, which would be 3 o'clock in the afternoon (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44), then there is an incredible irony here! At the exact moment when the paschal lambs are being slain in the temple courtyard, the real Paschal Lamb is voluntarily surrendering His life to rescue you and me!
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