Exodus 12:11
This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Exodus 12:8-11 and Luke 12:35-40
As we continue to dissect the Passover, I personally believe that everything no matter how big or small is connected to Jesus. Every instruction links to some aspect of Jesus life those last few days leading up to his crucifixion. We only need to look to the gospel of John for proof. John tells us, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17) Every instruction that was given to Moses, Jesus gave us the equivalent in grace and truth. Moses’ covenant was imperfect while Jesus’ covenant is perfect.
That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire (Exodus 12:8)
Fire is often used in Scripture to represent the judgment of God as in Jeremiah 15:14. In the sacrificial system that God institutes in Leviticus, a burnt offering was the complete destruction of the animal in an effort to renew man’s relationship with God. This sacrifice was an acknowledgement of our sin nature and a request for renewed relationship with God.
When Jesus died on the cross, he became our final burnt offering to God. Jesus bore all of our sins and took on the judgment of God so that our relationship with God would be renewed forever. The author of Hebrews tells us, “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins … he [Jesus] has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:11-14).
along with bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8)
The bitter herbs represent the bitterness of Egyptian slavery to the Israelites. The bitter herbs also represent our slavery to sin. The bitters in the Passover meal are to give us a spirit of bitterness knowing that our sins are what made the sacrifice of Jesus necessary. The cross is bitter sweet.
Take a look at what appear to be the prophetic words of Jesus on the cross, “He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver. I became the laughing stock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long. He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink” (Lam 3:13-15).
And also “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son” (Zech 12:10). The bitters when eaten can be bitter enough to bring tears to your eyes. This is the posture of the Passover meal as if we are grieving the loss of our firstborn son because that was in fact what God did.
and bread made without yeast. (Exodus 12:8)
God will institute an entire seven-day celebration called the Festival of Unleavened Bread. It is a significant symbol so we will dig deeper into it in coming days. Yeast represents sin everywhere it is mentioned in the Bible. Even Jesus told his disciples to “be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matt 16:6). Thus bread without yeast would represent a life without sin. And Jesus was the only one to live a life without sin. The unleavened bread is Jesus. He is “the bread of life” (John 6:35).
Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. (Exodus 12:10)
If any of the lamb was left over, they were to burn it so that it would not decay. Ideally, the lamb should be fully consumed in the same way that we are to be completely devoted to Jesus. But regardless it was not to decay because Jesus’ body would be taken down from the cross immediately after his death and embalmed so as not to decay. This was unusual because the crucified bodies would typically remain on the cross to decay and be eaten by animals. It was a gruesome sight that would remain for days so that everyone would see the dead bodies as a constant reminder not to cross the Romans. “But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay” (Acts 13:37).
This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. (Exodus 12:11)
The Israelites were to eat the Passover ready to leave on their journey out of Egypt. In the same way, we are to be ready for Jesus to return for us. This also points to Jesus’ body being taken off the cross and his body prepared for burial in haste. Joseph of Arimathea prepared Jesus for burial and placed him in a tomb in pretty short order because “the Sabbath was about to begin” (Luke 23:54). The women didn’t even have time to anoint his body.
Jesus tells us to “be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet” (Luke 12:35-36). He is coming back for us soon and we are to be spiritually prepared for his return. “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Luke 12:40). We are to have our cloak tucked into our belt (spiritually prepared), our sandals on our feet (ready at a moment’s notice to give a reason for our faith) and our staff in our hand (leaning on God’s provision and protection).
Christ in the Old Testament 
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