The Passover Lamb

Why did God create man?

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit had existed for eternity without man. What was missing? Nothing. If God is, in fact, everything, then nothing could have been missing. Then why create man and a universe in which man would dwell?

There is no way to know for sure, but I imagine that somewhere in the depths of God's own nature, he had a desire for some other creature with whom He could have a loving relationship — someone to love. But for love to be fully expressed there must be mutual love, each for the other. And for love to be love, it must be voluntary. Love that is not a choice is not love at all.

Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." —Genesis 2:15-17

Adam was surrounded by abundant provision — any food he desired was provided. There was only one limitation. One fruit. In essence, God was asking,

"Will you trust my loving provision and plan? Or will you chose your own plan?"

"I love you. Will you love me in return?"

Rejecting God's love would necessarily erect a barrier between God and Adam, break the fellowship for which he was created, and result in death.

Adam chose to disobey God and ate the fruit.

Immediately, Adam felt shame. He became aware of his nakedness and made clothes out of plant leaves to cover himself. And he suddenly feared facing God in his new awareness of sin. Their loving fellowship had been broken by Adam's rebellion.

After pronouncing the curse,

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. —Genesis 3:21

Adam and Eve watched in horror as God selected the animals and killed them. For the first time in their lives, they witnessed flowing blood. For the first time since the creation of the world, the cry of a dying animal pierced the peaceful melody of the Garden. And they were both aware that this was the price of their sin.

Then, from the skin of these sacrifices, God made clothes for Adam and Eve. The skins represented the blood of the innocent animals. So when God looked upon Adam and Eve, rather than seeing them in their sinful state, He saw the skins — the blood — that was shed, which in effect covered their sin.

God, in His love for man, provided a means to preserve His relationship with him.

Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves... Your lamb shall be an unblemished male...the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it... The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. —Exodus 12:3-13

This "Passover" sacrifice was an annual requirement for the Israelites. Every year, all the males in Israel were to journey to the Temple in Jerusalem and offer their lambs. Just like the innocent animals in the Garden, the blood of these lambs covered the sins of the worshiper. But this had to be repeated year after year.

This was the system that Jesus walked into.

John [the Baptist] was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" —John 1:35-36

Through John, the Holy Spirit declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God — the Passover Lamb.

The Last Supper was the meal that commemorated the Passover. When Jesus was hung on the cross, his blood was spilled at the same time the Passover Lambs were being sacrificed in Jerusalem.

Jesus was sacrificed as our Passover Lamb.

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. —John 19:30

What was finished?

The system of sacrifices at the altar in Jerusalem. Jesus was declaring that His blood was sufficient to cover the sin of all who would receive that gift.

When we receive salvation, we are covered by the blood of Jesus — the perfect, eternal Lamb of God. So when God looks upon us, rather than seeing our sin, He sees the blood of His Son — which is perfect and holy.

That's why we can be called, "Sons of God." Because when God looks at us, He sees Jesus.