Ex. 12:6
IN HIS instructions to the children of Israel regarding the Passover lamb, the Lord said they were to take a lamb on the tenth day of the month; then He told them: “Ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day.” These four days would tell of how it was in those deep eternal counsels that God had devised His plan of salvation for fallen man—long bore man had been introduced into this world, or sin had brought its awful penalty. How wonderful the eternal love of God shown here! When man fell through sin, God was not confronted with a circumstance for which He had no provision. All was determined long before.
During those four days before the Passover, the Israelite could look repeatedly on the lamb which was to be his substitute, whose blood would shelter him from God’s judgment. The Lord Jesus also was manifested thus during His earthly walk, His moral glories and perfections shining out all along His pathway. John the Baptist, “looking upon Jesus as He walked,” could say, “Behold the Lamb of God.” What a delight to the heart of one who knows that blessed Saviour to let his soul’s gaze rest on Him and to contemplate His immeasurable love in becoming the willing victim and in making atonement for our sins. One day soon we shall be in His presence in the glory and gaze without distraction upon His blessed face forever.
There with unwearied gaze
Our eyes on Him we’ll rest;
And satisfy in endless praise
A heart supremely blest.
“And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” All must be identified with the slain lamb. No matter how perfect the lamb might be in appearance—no matter how appearing it might be to the emotions of those who looked on it—it would have no value to them whatsoever unless it were slain. In every house the message was the same: “kill it in the evening.” How many there are today who are satisfied to see in Jesus one worthy of admiration, One whose life was “without blemish,” One worthy to be proclaimed as a great and good moral example, a leader of men; yet these convictions will not avail when it comes to the salvation of the soul. The Lord Jesus must be seen, above all else, as the Sin-bearer, the One who was slain on Calvary, “the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God.” His moral beauties and perfections proclaimed His qualification to die for our sins, yet it is only through faith in Him as the slain One that salvation can be known. The lamb, slain in the evening, reminds us that as the Lamb of God He “was manifest in these last times for you.” 1 Peter 1:20.
Memory Verse “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.”
Rom. 6:23.
ML-02/02/1969