Delivered from bondage

Exodus 12:21–51; Job 30; Luke 15; 1 Corinthians 16

The Exodus was a great event in history but also a foreshadowing of a greater event. The Passover Lamb was slain and its blood covered the doorway of God’s people. The angel of death, when he saw the blood, passed over those homes. The entire people of God and a “mixed multitude” left Egypt, left the bondage there and walked out on foot, six hundred thousand men and counting women and children, two million people. No one stayed.

Our city is not that large yet I cannot imagine every person living in it putting their pots and pans in backpacks, some food and other provisions, taking children in hand and leaving. These who fled point to the millions of souls that God saves by grace, since then and in the future, a number that is too large to count.

I also think about the lambs that were slain and their helplessness. They point to Jesus, one man among millions, the Savior God sent to deliver His people from the bondage of sin. This mass of people and the Lamb began the nation of Israel at that time, pointing to the kingdom of God and its King now spread throughout the earth. The picture is a grand one depicting guilty people facing death with the only escape given —a lamb dies instead of those who are sentenced to die.

The people were instructed to keep the Passover, a feast that reminds them every year of their deliverance. A millennium and a half later, the NT believers in Corinth were reminded that Christ Jesus is their Passover Lamb. He was sacrificed for them, and for us, and a new covenant is made.

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

Those who believe in Him are protected from the destroyer and given life eternal. At that time, we were also given a new way to remind us of our Passover Lamb:

 . . .  the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23–26)

In our church, we  celebrate this rite, actually more of a right and a privilege. Our monthly communion service is a vivid reminder of the Passover and the Lamb who was slain. We express our gratitude for His shed blood and all that He has done for us, setting us free from the bondage of sin, redeeming us slavery and securing our lives by His sacrifice.

In the NT Jesus tells of the joy produced when sinners turn to God and rely on the blood of the Lamb to save them from sin and eternal punishment:

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. . . .  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:7; 10)

Imagine the joy when two million people were delivered from slavery. Imagine the joy of God as millions more are delivered from bondage to sin. Imagine the joy of God as He delivered me!

APPLY: Today when I take communion I will think of the joy of God as He observes saved sinners celebrating the Lamb whose broken body and shed blood set us free. His joy fills me with joy — what an incredible Redeemer we worship and serve!