sound of a soft breath

In our next five readings we'll take a look at some fascinating previews of coming attractions found in the Bible. These are often referred to as "types."

I am journaling through the book titled The Essential Jesus: 100 Readings Through the Bible's Greatest Story written by Whitney T. Kuniholm. The above quote is from Kuniholm's introduction to the next group of five passage readings from the Old Testament. In reflecting on the first passage reading of this group Kuniholm writes

The Passover lamb was one of the first great previews of God's plan of salvation."

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt ... The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. ... Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. "Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. (Exodus 12:1,13,21-25)

Christ was killed on Passover day. Passover was a celebration established by God for his people as he freed them from slavery in Egypt. The Passover celebration during Jesus's time began with a meal eaten the night before. We read about the Passover meal Jesus ate with his disciples before his death in the accounts written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The Passover in Old Testament times was an event turned celebration that reminded God's people how he saved them from slavery in Egypt. It was also a preview look into the future. The Passover pointed into the future when the Messiah would come as the perfect lamb and give up his own life to save others. Jesus was the Passover lamb that was killed so that we may be saved by His blood.

Just as the Passover in Old Testament times was a reminder of the saving act of God and a preview of a future act in Christ, today it is both a reminder and preview. The Passover is a reminder of God's saving act in Exodus, Jesus the Lamb of God, the Last Supper on earth with His disciples, and His sacrificial death. Today it is also a preview of another supper, another celebration, the great wedding supper of the Lamb. John describes what he sees in his vision recorded in the last book of the Bible Revelation.

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's people.) Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God." (Revelation 19:6-9)

The bride is us, believers in Christ, the body of Christ, the church. We are ready for the Groom. We have been passed over, spared, saved, for a reason, for the ultimate wedding celebration dinner. A dinner celebrating our close and intimate relationship with God in Christ.

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