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The deaths of the Passover lambs delivered the Israelites from death—a sign of a greater Passover Lamb.

BibleGateway: Exodus 12:14-36

ESV Text: Exodus 12:14-36


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 2:2 and ends at about 6:8

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14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

     21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 22 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. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

     29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. 34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 195 (LSB 458):
Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands

Hymnary.org — Organ Audio

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1. Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands, 
For our offenses given; 
But now at God’s right hand He stands 
And brings us life from heaven; 
Therefore let us joyful be 
And sing to God right thankfully 
Loud songs of hallelujah! 
Hallelujah! 

2. It was a strange and dreadful strife 
When Life and Death contended; 
The victory remained with Life, 
The reign of Death was ended; 
Holy Scripture plainly saith 
That Death is swallowed up by Death, 
His sting is lost forever. 
Hallelujah! 

3. Here the true Paschal Lamb we see, 
Whom God so freely gave us; 
He died on the accursed tree- 
So strong His love!-to save us. 
See, His blood doth mark our door; 
Faith points to it, Death passes o’er, 
And Satan cannot harm us. 
Hallelujah! 

4. So let us keep the festival 
Whereto the Lord invites us; 
Christ is himself the Joy of all, 
The Sun that warms and lights us. 
By His grace He doth impart 
Eternal sunshine to the heart; 
The night of sin is ended. 
Hallelujah! 

5. Then let us feast this Easter Day 
On Christ, the Bread of heaven; 
The Word of Grace hath purged away 
The old and evil leaven. 
Christ alone our souls will feed, 
He is our meat and drink indeed; 
Faith lives upon no other. 
Hallelujah!