The Covenant Meal
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 03/03/2018
Foundation Scriptures:
Exodus 12:1-14 KJV
1. Salvation from Bondage.
a. The first eleven chapters of the Book of Exodus tell us about the bondage of the Israelites in Egypt.
b. In Exodus 12:1-14, God is outlining a way out – a plan of salvation.
c. He is not only setting His people free, but He is also judging the gods of Egypt.
d. God is holy – sin must be judged.
e. The tenth day of the month of Nissan this year is on March 26th.
f. One lamb (a year old), per family, is selected and thoroughly inspected for imperfections for three days.
g. If one small blemish is found, the lamb is not worthy of the sacrifice.
2. Sacrificial Lamb.
a. There were approximately 2.5 million people (family of 8) which equals 312,500 lambs.
b. God was specific: Roast it. Do not eat it raw and do not boil it.
c. On the 14th day of the month, after passing inspection, the lamb is sacrificed and the blood caught by a basin. Then it’s roasted.
d. A branch of hyssop is dipped into the blood and used to strike the lintels and side posts of the door.
e. When the angel of death passed by and found no blood, the firstborn would die.
f. God was not only allowing sin to be judged, but whosoever refused to do this was refusing God’s plan of salvation.
g. Someone had to die – either the firstborn, or the lamb.
h. There had to be the shedding of blood.
i. The wages of sin is death – without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.
3. Deliverance – Salvation and Healing.
a. As they ate the lamb, they had to be packed, dressed and ready to leave.
b. Imagine 300,000 lambs barbecuing at one time. The Egyptians must have known something was up.
c. The Israelites did all this by faith – inspected the lamb, killed it, sprinkled the blood, roasted it, and dressed to travel – all at the Word of the Lord, through Moses.
d. When God said to Pharaoh, “Let My people go,” He was saying, “If you touch them, you touch Me.”
e. They are the apple of My eye.
f. Covenant talk for covenant people.
g. He saved and healed them all.
h. Psalm 105:37 KJV - “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.”
4. Supernatural Provision.
a. While they wandered in the wilderness, God supernaturally provided for His covenant children.
b. Supernatural deliverance at the Red Sea.
c. Pillar of cloud by day.
d. Pillar of fire by night.
e. Manna from heaven.
f. Quail from heaven.
g. Water from the rock.
h. Deuteronomy 8:4 AMPC - “Your clothing did not become old upon you nor did your feet swell these forty years.”
5. Born to Die.
a. They didn’t leave Egypt until: 1) The lamb was in them; 2) the blood was on them, 3) the Glory cloud was over them.
b. After this, every year, at the same time, they would prepare and partake of the Passover – the memorial covenant meal.
c. The priests and high priests began to breed lambs for the sacrifices.
d. Jesus – the Lamb of God – was born, and raised, to die.
e. When the shepherds heard about Jesus from the angels, they were watching their flocks. Lambs being prepared for Passover.
f. For twenty-nine years nothing was heard about Jesus.
g. At the age of thirty, Jesus’ ministry came under public scrutiny for three years.
h. John 1:29 KJV - “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
i. John 1:36 KJV - “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”
j. At the age of 33, He set His face, like flint, to go to Jerusalem (Isaiah 50:7).
k. On the 9th day of Nissan, the Lamb of God makes His triumphal entry, even as thousands of lambs come through the sheep gate.
6. Passover Feast.
a. Three days before He went to the Cross, Jesus celebrates the Feast of Unleavened Bread (seven days) and the Passover with His disciples.
b. He followed the pattern laid out by Moses, but on this day He was adding substance to what was, previously, types and shadows.
c. On the table was a bag with bread in three pouches, which to the Jews represented Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Or, to us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
d. He took out the center loaf.
e. Take, eat, this is My body broken for you.
f. There were four cups – three right-side up and one face down – Messiah’s cup – the cup of redemption.
g. Drink this cup, it is the New Covenant in My blood.
h. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experienced the agony of facing the Cross and being offered up as a sacrifice for sin.
7. Passover Lamb.
a. Isaiah 53:1-7
b. The lambs were scrutinized for three days.
c. As the lambs are inspected for blemishes, Jesus is inspected (questioned) by the priests and High Priest.
d. Pontius Pilate said three times, “I find no fault in this man.”
e. The High Priest gave the command for Him to be crucified.
f. As they nailed Him to the cross, they sharpened their knives for the animal sacrifice.
g. He died, even as the lambs were being sacrificed.
h. As He died, He cried, “It is finished!”
i. The veil covering the Holy of Holies split in two from the top to the bottom.
j. The Old Covenant ended – the New Covenant began – an everlasting covenant established in the blood of Jesus.