Montrose, Colorado
Rev. Willis A. (Bert) Jones, a country preacher & Bible teacher
March 27, 2015
"The Passover Lamb, Jesus"
John the Baptist said, "Behold the lamb of God" (John 1:29) when he baptized Jesus. The next day he again said "The Lamb of God." (John 1:36). This is an introduction of Jesus' ministry and the fact that he is the "Passover Lamb" for the world's salvation. Some three years later Jesus was sacrificed as the Lamb according the Old Testament Passover schedule.
It was the time of the barley harvest in Judea, Israel, the 10th of Nisan that Jesus entered Jerusalem to be set aside as the divine-human lamb. We call that day Palm Sunday. Starting the next day Jesus was tested to see if He was perfect in order to be the Passover Lamb.
The religious leaders used trick questions over the next four days seeking to show that He wasn't the Lamb of God. He answered each question rightly and was found to be perfect.
He passed all these tests (see Matthew 21, Luke 19, Mark 11 and John 12 and following scriptures). This was Sunday afternoon through Thursday morning. On Thursday, 14th of Nisan, Jesus was nailed on the cross at 9 a.m. and died at 3 p.m. His body was placed in the tomb before 6 pm. Thursday evening. (The church dates Jesus' death on a Friday, which is a papist tradition, the day before Saturday.) Passover is a special Sabbath, that year falling on a Friday. This time two Sabbaths in a row. On Resurrection Sunday Jesus victoriously rose from the grave after three days in the tomb as He had said He would.
Our victory over death was paid for by Jesus' once and for all payment for our sin with His blood.
He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty.-[Mark 16:6 (MSG)]
This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.-- Acts 2:23 (NASB)
Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.-- Colossians 2:14 (NASB)