Jesus and the Passover Lamb

Journal Entry

June 5^th, 2005 – Sunday

Jacksonville, FL (STP)

Scripture references:

Luke 24: 13-35

Exodus 12:1-6

Exodus 12:1-6

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, "This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

Luke 24:13-35

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Church this morning was a good experience I think. We (our team) are at Grace Community Church here in town. The pastor spoke today about the role of the lamb in the Bible (New Testament and Old Testament). The Passover lamb was to be kept in the house for 4 days before they slaughtered it so that it would become loved like a pet or a part of the family. This really struck me as I was meditating over this during communion. The disciples all lived and hung around with Jesus for 3 years. That’s enough time to feel like a very close family. He made some very cool promises and gave them all lots of assuring words. He told them that together with him they would inherit the kingdom of heaven and have eternal life. He told them all this, and then he died on the cross. The disciples had to have been destroyed by that. Here He had made all these promises and he had died, leaving them hanging with only some seemingly vague instructions. The disciples were bummed and surely felt an enormous amount of grief, hopelessness, and fear. But then, on the road to Emmaus when Jesus walked with them while they didn’t recognize him and had dinner with them, when they recognized who they were eating with, the joy and excitement and sheer exhilaration that they must have experienced! After that huge let down in there life, the hope had been restored in a brighter and clearer light than before, and they knew without a doubt that everything Jesus had said to them was absolutely true. What a glorious joy it is to know that He is risen, and risen for us, for you and me. All of our sin has been wiped away; we are squeaky clan, like just stepping out of the shower. All we have to do to walk with Jesus and all the other saints in heaven is simply accept this gift that has been given us! It’s as simple as that. Just accept the salvation and offer your life to him with joy in return. It’s GLORIOUS!