ICS Daily Devotions
He Gave His All For You
John 1:29 (NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21a (NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us.
Jesus fits the bill of a lamb without blemish and the Passover is a type and shadow of Christ’s sacrifice for mankind. Jesus fitted the bill as the lamb without blemish in the eyes of God and Man. Many people used every possible tactic to discredit Him, but each attempt utterly failed. They could not find even the smallest flaw in His character.
John 19:6b (NKJV) Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”
Pilate interrogated Jesus and found that He did absolutely nothing wrong to be worthy of crucifixion. Even the hostile high priests could find a just cause to put him to death so they trumped up false charges against Him. Similarly, Jesus was also tempted by the devil during his forty days in the wilderness and was without sin. He did not succumb to temptation and sin at any single occasion.
The Passover lamb was selected on the 10th day of the month but not sacrificed until the 14th day. That gave 4 days to carefully examine the lamb. Christ entered Jerusalem on Sunday and was crucified on Friday, so the intervening 4 days fit the same pattern.
It is specified that when animals were chosen for the yearly Passover sacrifice, none of the bones were to be broken.
Exodus 12:46 (NKJV) In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones.
John 19:36 (NKJV) For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”
It was the custom of the Romans to break the legs of those being crucified in order to hasten their death. They did not break any of Jesus’ bones because they found Him dead. Thus, they pierced His side instead. Jesus died at the exact hour the Passover lambs were being sacrificed throughout Israel.
Exodus 12: 9,12 Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails…….For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike 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.
The roasting of the lamb pictured the sufferings of Christ on the cross. Not only did He die, but His death itself was a complete sacrifice. He died the death of a criminal hanging on a hated Roman cross.
Philippians 2:5-7 (NASB) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Jesus, being fully God, could have easily revealed His deity to those who attempted to humiliate and crucify Him. Yet, He chose to humble Himself by laying aside His glory and submitting to the humiliation of becoming man and went to the cross. Crucifixion was the most degrading kind of execution that could be inflicted on a person. He did this not by giving up His high position and glory of deity but as a servant who is always submissive to the will of the Father. When He went to the cross, He was thinking of you. His love was reaching out to you even before you were born.
Therefore, whatever circumstances you are going through right now, be aware that Jesus loves you so much that he died on the cross for you. His death on the cross is the full expression of His love and your redemption!
Sermon series: Cell Group Campaign Session 4 – The Passover
