Historical & Cultural Context
Passover and Crucifixion
Behold the Lamb: Passover and the Day Jesus Died
The Lamb, the Blood, and the Cross
The crucifixion of Jesus occurred within the world of Passover. From the lamb selected in Egypt and the blood placed upon the doorposts, to John the Baptist's declaration, "Behold, the Lamb of God," Scripture develops a remarkable pattern that reaches its fulfillment in the death of Christ.
This study follows the biblical Passover imagery from Exodus through the Gospel accounts of Jesus' final meal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Particular attention is given to the Passover lamb, the blood that delivered from judgment, the unbroken bones of the sacrifice, the use of hyssop, and Paul's declaration that "Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed."
Questions This Study Explores
- 01
How does the original Passover in Exodus 12 establish the biblical background for understanding the death of Jesus?
- 02
Why does the New Testament identify Jesus as the Lamb of God and "Christ our Passover"?
- 03
What connections do the Gospel writers make between the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion and the Passover lamb?
- 04
What is the significance of the lamb's blood being applied, rather than merely possessing or sacrificing the lamb?
The World of the Study
Passover commemorated God's deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt. A lamb without blemish was sacrificed, its blood was applied to the doorway, and those sheltered beneath that blood were delivered from judgment. The event became one of the defining acts of redemption in Israel's history.
Against this background, the New Testament presents Jesus as the Lamb of God. The Gospel writers place His death within the Passover setting, while later New Testament writers explicitly connect His sacrifice with Passover imagery. These connections allow the Exodus story to illuminate the cross without requiring every detail of the crucifixion narrative to correspond to an element of the original Passover.
The result is a biblical theology of redemption stretching from Egypt to Calvary: bondage, sacrifice, blood, deliverance, and ultimately the greater Exodus accomplished through Jesus Christ.
Key Biblical Texts
- Exodus 12:1–14
- Exodus 12:43–46
- John 1:29
- Luke 9:28–31
- Luke 22:14–20
- John 18:28–19:37
- 1 Corinthians 5:7
- 1 Peter 1:18–19
- Revelation 5:6–14
Teaching Resource
Passover and Crucifixion
A Biblical Study of the Passover Lamb and the Cross
Designed for adult Bible study and discipleship settings, this resource traces the biblical Passover pattern from Exodus to the crucifixion of Jesus and examines how the New Testament presents Christ as the Lamb whose sacrifice brings deliverance.
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Christ + 0
The Absolute Sufficiency of Jesus Christ for Salvation
The Passover pattern points beyond the sacrifice of a lamb to the sufficiency of the Lamb of God. The blood had to accomplish what the Israelite could not accomplish for himself. The teaching resource introduces this theme; Christ + 0 explores more fully the finished and sufficient work of Jesus Christ for salvation.
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