Passover Message 2006, Part One

One of the most powerful statements found in the Word of God , "When I See the Blood, I will PASS OVER you," took place during the original Passover when God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage, and in type and prophetic shadow, showed us what He would do for the  believer as a result of the Cross of Christ, His only Begotten Son. As we celebrate Passover season 2006, let us never forget the tremendous sacrifice of Christ upon Calvary's cruel and bloody tree which is the source of ALL of mankind's deliverance.

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Exodus 12:11-12  - And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's Passover. [12] For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

Rev. 5:6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

1 Cor. 5:7
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:

        As we celebrate Passover in 2006,  Satan has launched one of his greatest attacks on the church concerning the message of the Cross of Christ. Apostasy very seldom gets into the blood stream of the church from the outside; that's why Satan fights his best war on the INSIDE to woo the church away from its real source of power - the BLOOD OF JESUS and the power in what He accomplished for us at the Cross. Passover is a prophetic type of this great victory we have been given THROUGH CHRIST - the PASSOVER LAMB, sacrificed for US - over sin, the flesh, the world - AND SATAN. The blood of the Lamb of Deliverance is our only defense against the enemy of our soul. That is why he constantly seeks to move our faith to something other than that which will destroy his power in our lives!

        It was the Passover sacrifice that delivered Israel from the power of Pharaoh so that her people would never again serve Egypt. It is the CROSS, of which the Passover was a prophetic type, that delivers us from the power of Satan and slavery to the corruption of the world. Never forget that. It was not the miracles that got Pharaoh to loose his grip on the children of Israel - but the BLOOD!  Realizing this today, Satan rages war against those who turn to the cross just as Pharaoh did against Israel when he saw he was losing his power over them. Like the Passover did in type, the cross brings judgment upon the evil of the world, but delivers those who embrace it from the world. The sacrifice of the Lamb has always been the main point of conflict in eternity and it will always be the point of conflict in future events yet to take place upon planet Earth and in heaven. But the LAMB of GOD is the LAMB OF DELIVERANCE AND HE HAS PREVAILED AND WILL PREVAIL FOR ALL ETERNITY! The Lamb of God has come to TAKE AWAY the SIN OF THE WORLD. Christ took away the penalty of death over us through His great sacrifice and broke the power of sin by conquering every foe of darkness that would seek to bring the child of God into bondage.

Col. 2:13-14
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
 

        We want to take you back to the events that finally brought Israel out of Egyptian bondage after nearly nine months of a struggle between Moses and the powers of darkness controlling Pharaoh. As already stated, this event is a beautiful type of our redemption and sanctification in Christ and I pray today that it will encourage those who may be engaged in the spiritual battle we are all engaged in for the eternal destination of our souls. Eternity is long friend and we need heed the TRUTH of the gospel today in order to make our calling and election sure. Jesus said you will "KNOW THE TRUTH" and the "TRUTH" will set you free. I love a "touch," from heaven don't get me wrong. I love being in services where I can feel the tangible presence of God. But it's not the TOUCH that will keep my heart free from deception and lure me away from God's prescribed order of victory! It's the TRUTH that sets us free and that TRUTH is the message of Christ and Him Crucified!

John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

1 Cor. 1:17-18
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Cor. 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

The Bible: The Story Of The Lamb

         From Genesis to Revelation, the story of man's deliverance is summed up in the image and personage of the Lamb of God. Ever since Cain slew Abel over the latter's sacrifice of a precious little lamb to God, Satan has sought to destroy the seed of those whose faith does not rest in anything but what the Lamb represented - the coming death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Genesis we see Abel's lamb, in Exodus, we have the first recorded mention of Passover.

        The first Passover lamb was a type of the coming Christ, the LAMB OF GOD, which would take away (and has taken away) the sin of the world. God instructed Moses to make the celebration a perpetual event that would mark Israel's beginning of religious festivals and her spiritual calendar. Those instructions are kept to this day in modern Israel and throughout all the world among the Jewish people. Some in Israel have come to recognize the TRUE LAMB OF GOD,  while others sadly, continue to celebrate this event that shook Egypt to its core and destroyed the mightiest nation on earth at the time, without understanding that the "lamb without blemish," has already come. The blood sprinkled on the door posts to protect Israel from the death angel, was God's picture of salvation for ALL HUMANITY, both Jew AND Gentile, through Christ. In essence, Israel was placing Christ's blood upon those houses prophetically and ALL who stay in the house protected by blood will be saved from the coming destroyer.

        Yeshuah, the Jewish name for Jesus, kept the feasts of the Lord during His earthly life. He attended Shabbat and fulfilled every "jot" and "tittle" of the Law making Him the perfect sacrifice for sin's requirement before a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS God. Sin had separated humanity from God so it would take the blood of a perfect person to redeem Adam's fallen sons. Jesus Christ, Yeshua, was and IS that person! His sinless, perfect life testified to the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit and in keeping the Law became mankind's only hope of redemption. ALL HAVE SINNED and the penalty for sin, even one, is eternal condemnation. Everything Yeshuah did in His life was in preparation of His death, burial and resurrection. That is the Spirit of Passover. That is the power of God's plan of redemption. The Jewish religious feast calendar starts with Passover, and in fulfillment of the type, the Lord's sacrifice is the starting place for ALL OF MANKIND'S REDEMPTION!

Romans 5:12-21
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: [13] (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. [14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. [15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. [16] And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. [17] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) [18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. [19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. [20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

        Mankind cannot save himself, neither can man keep himself saved! Satan is not threatened if we embrace a doctrine or even the institution itself of Christianity, but when we by faith embrace the LAMB, then the war engages. Some reading this journal today know what I am talking about. You are engaged in this struggle at this very minute. I don't know too many true Christians who are not. I'm not saying that those who are not in a struggle are not Christians, it just seems as you learn more and more about the Lord and read about those who found the narrow path to eternal life,  all without exception entered the Kingdom "with many trials and tribulations," yet never losing faith! Our faith may stagger and take hits at times, but we never lose sight of the Cross and what Jesus did for us there.

The Slain Lamb Of Exodus Is In Type The Slain Lamb Of Revelation

Rev. 5:6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
 

        When we look at the very last chapter of the canon of Scripture we see the LAMB as represented as standing in the very midst of all the greatness of the Throne of God. He is the center of all attention. It doesn't say He is sitting on the Throne but STANDING in the midst of it. At this point, the event of Calvary is past, still, all the effects of the Cross have not been yet realized. So Jesus is pictured standing instead of sitting, representing the fact work yet to do, in the sense that mankind is still lost and redemption's plan will go on till the final altar call can be given and one more precious soul believes. That's the beauty and glory of the Passover lamb. It's the same glorious power that brought Israel out of bondage, and it's the same glorious power friend that can set you and I free today.

John 1:29 -  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. [30] This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

        The words of John the Baptist, "BEHOLD, the Lamb of God," this same John who saw the Lamb around the throne recorded years earlier. He was the same Lamb the Baptist saw but when the Apostle saw Him, He was STANDING, reaching out to a lost world through the power of the HOLY GHOST. Can't you feel the power behind that? My Lord, what a great salvation we have. My Lord, what a wonderful Saviour we have in Christ. He, who takes away the SIN of the world, HAS COME! He has come oh' Israel and IS salvation to those who believe. He has come AMERICA and IS salvation to ALL those who believe. HE has come OH WORLD, TOO ALL WHO WILL BELIEVE to set the captive free and break the chains and the shackles of sin.

        His blood can change the human condition! His blood can change the human stain that has killed, maimed, and destroyed millions because of the death sin brings. His blood can destroy every power of darkness that grips mankind and holds men in chains of lust, disease, unbelief, homosexuality, perversion and greed. His blood can stand in the face of Satan and declare - IT IS FINISHED - and lay low every claim and accusation the enemy makes against humanity. HIS BLOOD is what stands between us and eternal hell at this very moment. His blood is the power that REACHES to the lowest valley, the highest mountain that brings us into right standing with God. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE THAT CAN DO THAT. There is NO power of darkness that can stand against THE LAMB'S POWER.

        His BLOOD STILL SETS MEN FREE! Those three rusty nails, that SHOOK the gates of eternal hell, were nails from which the source of ALL of man's freedom run down from those precious holy hands. The church world would do wise to return to the preaching of this message. It has left this message for "other" things it deems safer and more modern. Let this writer tell you something today without blinking of backing up from. The Purpose Driven Life cannot set men free from the powers of hell. Humanistic psychology cannot set men free from the powers of hell and sin. Our cell groups cannot set men free from their lust, sin and greed that destroy millions of lives and breaks up millions of homes, including many Christians.

        Our programs and church growth seminars cannot set men free from the stain of homosexuality and perversion that grips millions, sadly, many so-called Christians. The message men need to hear is the message of the CROSS that requires repentance and a change in their heart and life that only Jesus can bring about. Our so-called Christian rock concerts may entertain and bring the youth out by the scores, may even make our church rolls grow, but to be frank and brutally honest, they only bring these young people listening to the music into greater bondage. They don't need a thrill or goose bumps, preacher, they need the powers of darkness broken in their lives by the life-changing, soul-cleansing, devil-chasing POWER of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. One preacher told me just the other day that the reason he has these concerts in his church is to "attract the young people." Neighbor, our job in the church is not to "attract" anyone. God help us. Our job is to preach this mighty gospel under the anointing of the HOLY GHOST and to hang men over hell itself if necessary to make them see their lost condition without God and allow the HOLY GHOST TO GRIP THEIR HEARTS BEFORE IT IS ETERNALLY TOO LATE! Paul wrote that the PREACHING OF THE CROSS IS FOOLISHNESS to them that perish.

        People may not come to your church because this message makes them feel uncomfortable but those who ARE coming will be eternally saved! The message of the cross has never been a popular message and it never will. It requires man to deny himself and take up the cross and follow after CHRIST. It is not a call for membership into "Christianity" or the "Assemblies of God," of the "Baptists," or any other denomination. It's a call to DEATH - DEATH to the old man so that the new life in Christ may live through the individual.

        BEHOLD THE LAMB! THE LAMB is the one who has been slain for the deliverance of ALL mankind. No sin is too big for him. NO bondage is too deep for the Lamb. No depression too intense for the Lamb. No oppression is too dark for the Lamb. No loneliness too great for the Lamb. NO heart too dark for the Lamb. His blood can set the VILEST sinner free! His blood can set the homosexual free. His blood can set the child molester free. His blood can set the murderer on death row free. His blood can set the worst prostitute free.

           His blood can also bring LIFE to cold, dead, decadent religion that does everything in its power to keep HIS BLOOD out of our church services. Churches tearing pages out of song books with the word "blood," in them because we don't want to offend people are churches that are not churches. They have become social clubs and get together halls. They would be better to put gas tanks outside and pump gas to those coming - they'd be of a better service to the community than they are not preaching the Cross. The people in hell don't care preacher about the color of your carpet. The people in hell preacher don't care about the latest book craze fad you're pushing in your church. The people in hell preacher about how large your church is on Sunday morning because of the all the entertaining things you provide to get the masses out. God help us. God help us. God help us. THE BLOOD is the message, plain and simple - PERIOD. Preach the CROSS, preach the CROSS, preach the CROSS.

        Neighbor, the blood of Jesus Christ is the ONLY reason we're not in hell at this very moment. The BLOOD OF JESUS, the LAMB OF DELIVERANCE, is the only thing standing between our young people and drugs, alcohol, darkness, perversion and possibly worse. The blood is what stands between them and DEATH. Mother, a man's life does not consist in the number of things a man possesses. You can give that child all the "things" they want and shower them with every trinket known under heaven, but it won't cure the longing in their heart or the loneliness of their soul. Dad, you can work yourself into oblivion trying to keep up with the neighbor down the street, but it won't cure the dark hole in your soul you feel each night you lie down to sleep. ONLY JESUS CAN DO THAT. And the way Jesus does that is by faith in HIS BLOOD and what HE DID AT THE CROSS as the CRUCIFIED LAMB.

Luke 12:13-21- One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

        The Lamb in the midst of the throne was "as it had been slain." This represents the crucifixion and resurrection. This lamb standing in the midst of the throne is there RIGHT NOW, ALIVE, even though it bears "marks of fresh slaughter," on its body - the marks of a crucified CHRIST!. This speaks to us of many things as it relates to both Israel's deliverance and our deliverance today. He was the fulfillment of the lamb that was slain on Israel's last night in Egypt which began the celebration of Passover.

        First and foremost, it tells us of the vast significance of what Christ did at the cross. This is the key on which the entirety of the Plan of God turns. This tell us unequivocally that everything revolves around the CROSS. That's why Paul was so adamant in telling us to "preach the cross!"

• 1 Cor. 1:17-18
  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

• 1 Cor. 1:21
  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

• 1 Cor. 1:23
  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

• 1 Cor. 2:2
  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

• 1 Cor. 2:5
  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

           This is the picture of Jesus at the Throne of God; not as a conquering King, as important an aspect of His character as that is; not as the healer and miracle working as wonderful and great an aspect of His life and ministry as that is; not as the virgin born Son of God and Mary as the grand and glorious attribute of His deity  and humanity as that is. NO! He was pictured to John as a LAMB that had been slain! That's how and why we must picture Him as such today in the church. I know this sounds redundant and probably out of date to many. I have many friends in the ministry who tell me constantly we've got to "move beyond the cross onto better things," and I say "move on to what????" Neighbor, we must never know ANYTHING except the cross of Christ. It is the foundational stone upon which ALL doctrine should come. We need to preach the cross, sing the cross, witness the cross, proclaim the cross, and above all, and most importantly, ANCHOR our FAITH in the CROSS! The Holy Spirit and HIS WORK does not come any other way except THROUGH the FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST!

         We don't serve a dead Savior! But His resurrection is but a TESTIMONY to the SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD FOR ALL HUMANITY. When Mary saw Him immediately after He arose, the FIRST thing Christ said to her was "touch me not," because He had to get to GLORY to sprinkle His blood upon the great mercy seat of eternity. Man's sin debt had to be paid and it could only be paid by HIS BLOOD! I'm trying to get you to see something in this message. The HOLY SPIRIT only works through the parameters of our faith in the Cross! In other words, we may think moving on from the cross is going to move us into  the "deeper" things of the Spirit, but all that will do is open the door for "another spirit" to take hold in our churches and become deceived and deluded.

2 Cor. 11:1-4
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. [2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. [3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

        Much of what goes on right now as being passed off as the Holy Spirit moving is really the moving of "other spirits." Don't think I'm beating a soap box here. Entire denominations are falling into apostasy right now because they have abandoned the preaching of the Cross. And it doesn't matter the name of the church on the outside. This applies to ALL churches regardless of the denomination, be it Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Methodist, Presbyterian or whatever else the title is.

        Let me state that a different way. A Christ without the Cross does not heal one single person! A Christ without being crucified does not SAVE one single person. A Christ without being crucified does not deliver one single person! All the miracles, all the healings, all the glory, all the attributes surrounding His ministry and life such as the Virgin Birth and even His sinless perfection would have meant NOTHING had He not died. Peter said that the crucifixion was planned before the worlds were made! That's powerful. In other words, had not one single human being accepted what Christ did at the Cross, God would have still done it. He would have still sent His Son to die to show humanity His great love and compassion for a fallen race.  Oh, I want to shout right now. I want to shout and just fall on my face before the Lord and say "THANK YOU LORD for WHO YOU ARE and YOUR GREAT and MATCHLESS GRACE!" No wonder we sing "wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin!!"

1 Peter 1:18-21
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: [20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, [21] Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

            I want to say it again. The Cross is not just some abstract doctrine. It is the FOUNDATION of ALL doctrine!!! What Christ suffered at the Cross will be illustrated in detail to us one day when we view Him on the right hand of His Father. He will have the nail prints in His hand, the scars on His head, the pierce prints in His side. We will see a Risen, yet Crucified Messiah! He will reveal to us His great love for us. As the beautiful song goes, "I shall know Him, I shall know Him and REDEEMED by His side I will stand. I will KNOW Him, I shall KNOW Him, BY THE PRINTS OF THE NAILS IN HIS HAND!" Neighbor, those nail prints set us free from the powers and shackles of sin! The blood that flowed from those hands shook the gates of hell and made Satan buckle under the torrents of heaven's glory. It is upon FAITH in that blood that our Lord the is building the TRUE CHURCH and has been for over 2,000 years. The apostate church denies the blood, the true church accepts it. It is, as stated earlier, the point of all conflict between the powers of darkness and the powers of righteousness and light.

Matthew 16:13-16
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? [14] And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. [15] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

        Jesus told Peter - UPON THIS ROCK - I will build my church. What rock was He talking? He was talking about the ROCK of Peter's confession that CHRIST WAS THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. Faith in Christ being the son of God is important for our salvation, but the devils believe that and tremble! It's more than just mentally acquiescing to a fact that Christ is the son of God. We must anchor our faith and BELIEVE in the ROCK OF ALL FOUNDATION - THE CROSS and what He did for us there. I'm not talking so much of the physical suffering, which was awful and great in its majesty, don't get me wrong. But the power of the cross was in what Christ was accomplishing in eternity, securing ETERNAL redemption for all mankind! The only way to God is through the Lord Jesus Christ. The only way to Christ is through repentance, taking up our cross, and following Him daily. In other words, the only way to Christ, the LAMB, is through the CROSS!

Heb 9:12-14 - Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
 

        While the Sacrifice of animals could cleanse from ceremonial defilement under the Law, ONLY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF DELIVERANCE, could cleanse from actual sin! That throws out EVERY other proposed solution other than the Cross of Christ! Paul said He offered Himself through the ETERNAL SPIRIT, meaning literally that Christ did not die until the Holy Spirit told Him to die; in fact, no man took His life from Him; He laid it down freely.

John 10:17-18
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. [18] No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

        He offered Himself, "without spot to God," which means He did not become a "sinner" as some of the Word of Faith camp so blasphemously teach - but He became a PERFECT SACRIFICE. God could accept only that as should be obvious. Jesus took upon Himself the sin penalty of the human race, which was physical death; inasmuch as His Offering Himself was Perfect God accepted it as payment in FULL for ALL sin - past, present, and future, - AT LEAST FOR ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

        Paul says the blood of Christ purges our conscience from "dead works,' which are ANYTHING we place our faith in outside simple trust and faith in the Cross of Christ i.e. the BLOOD OF CHRIST, the Crucified Lamb, the Lamb of Deliverance!

        It's the cross upon which ALL the promises of God rest. The Holy Spirit calls the work of Christ having obtained "eternal" redemption which proclaims the eternal work accomplished by the giving of Himself on the Cross.

        The entirety of the Bible is the story of the Cross and the slain Lamb upon the throne. Unless we understand the Cross we really never truly understand the Bible. Too many believers attempt to understand the Word without first exhibiting Faith in the Cross. It cannot be done that way! This is proven by John 3:16. When the believing sinner expresses Faith in Christ, which includes "Christ crucified," he is beginning in the correct manner. Once he places his faith in the cross, it needs to stay there! If so, the Bible will be plain and easily understood. Now that I have laid that what was supposed to a "SHORT" foundation (smiling), let's get to our text and theme of this message. The Jewish feast of Pesach, or "Passover" as we know it today, is an Old Testament picture of how this deliverance of the cross has come to us through faith in the Lamb.