Christ, The Final Passover Lamb
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, October 15, 2026 (Donate)
Passover is fulfilled in the crucifixion and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. It points forward to Jesus. Jesus is our final “Passover Lamb”.
Thus, we no longer need to sacrifice lambs (or anything else). We, ourselves,
are treading as living sacrifices as the Bible calls us (Romans 12:1).
What Was The Passover Lamb In The Old Testament?
The Passover originated when God delivered the Israelites
from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12). God commanded each Israelite household to
select a male lamb without blemish, kill it, and apply its blood to the
doorposts and lintel of their homes. That night, the Lord struck down the
firstborn throughout Egypt, but He ‘passed over’ (hence the name Passover)
the homes marked by the lamb's blood (Exodus 12:12-13).
The lamb had to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5),
foreshadowing the sinless perfection of Jesus Christ (the Son of God, who is
the second person of the one triune God). The Israelites were instructed not to
break its bones (Exodus 12:46), another detail fulfilled at Christ's
crucifixion (John 19:33-36).
Passover was then an annual memorial of God's deliverance celebrated
yearly (e.g., Exodus 12:14). Yet it also pointed forward to something far
greater: the coming Messiah, who would deliver His people not just from
physical slavery but from something far greater: bondage to sin and death (John
8:34-36).
As sinners since Genesis 3, we have all been enemies of God.
We deserve the full punishment from an infinite God. Only God was in a position
to solve this problem. Let’s jump back for a moment.
Why Were Animal Sacrifices Insufficient For Eternal
Punishment?
Sin entered the world through Adam's disobedience (Genesis
3; Romans 5:12). Since God is perfectly holy, infinite, eternal, and just, sin
deserves death (even an eternal death) and an infinite judgment (Romans 6:23).
Even before the Passover, God demonstrated the seriousness of sin and the
necessity of covering man's shame when He clothed Adam and Eve with garments of
skin (Genesis 3:21)—the first animal sacrifice! Abel later offered an
acceptable animal sacrifice (Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4). Noah did, Abraham did,
and so on.
Under the Mosaic Law, God established animal sacrifices to address ceremonial uncleanness sacrifices for sin, and provide atonement within God’s covenant with Israel (Leviticus 1-7; 16-17). However, these sacrifices were never sufficient to permanently remove sin or satisfy the eternal, and infinite judgment deserved by sinners. Hebrews 10:4 declares,
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (NKJV).
Animals aren’t made in God's eternal image as mankind is
(Genesis 1:26-27). Nor are they infinite or eternal. Their deaths could
symbolically demonstrate the seriousness of sin, but they couldn’t serve as an
eternally sufficient substitute for sinful humanity. Repeated sacrifices
revealed their limitations (Hebrews 10:1-3, 11) and they were temporary
coverings at best.
These sacrifices were ‘types and shadows’ pointing forward
to the perfect sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 9:9-14; 10:1).
Why Is Christ Our Eternal Passover Lamb?
As mentioned before, Christ is our final Passover Lamb. The
one that was sufficient to cover payment for our debt of sin against God. John
the Baptist points to Jesus saying:
The next day John saw Jesus coming
toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world! (John 1:29, NKJV).
The Apostle Paul also said,
Therefore purge out the old leaven,
that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ,
our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV).
Unlike the Old Testament animal sacrifices, Jesus offered
Himself once for all (Hebrews 7:27; 9:26-28; 10:10-14). His sacrifice never
needs repeating because it accomplished what animal sacrifices could never
accomplish.
Christ bore the infinite and eternal punishment deserved by us
sinners—past, present, and future (Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Peter 2:24). Christ, being
God is infinite and being eternal, He could take the eternal punishment in a
moment! At His death, He took the full brunt of God’s wrath for us.
Essentially, Christ became sin for us, though He knew no sin, so
believers could receive God's righteousness through Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
His blood secures eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12). His
resurrection also proves His victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-4,
54-57). For death couldn’t contain the God of Life.
Why Was Christ Alone Qualified?
Jesus Christ alone could accomplish this eternal redemption
because He is both fully God and stepped into history and took on flesh to be fully
man (e.g., John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:14-17).
As a man, He could represent humanity and die as our
substitute, (often called a “kinsman redeemer”). As the eternal Son of God, His
sacrifice possessed a worth no mere creature could provide.
Furthermore, Jesus was completely sinless (per Hebrews 4:15;
1 Peter 2:22). Unlike every other descendant of Adam, He had no personal sin or
original sin requiring atonement—though He came in the likeness of sinful
flesh—He was the lamb without blemish.
Jesus was not merely another sacrificial victim—He is God.
He willingly laid down His life (John 10:17-18). He is also our great High
Priest, who offered Himself and now lives forever to intercede for His people
(Hebrews 7:24-27). He is the new federal head of the saved (unlike Adam who led
us into sin); thus, we will never fall into sin again (in Heaven) because our
federal head won’t sin in Heaven.
No prophet, priest, angel, or ordinary human could
accomplish this. Salvation is found in Christ, the Son of God, alone (e.g., Acts
4:12).
Conclusion: The Significance Of The Crucifixion
The crucifixion wasn’t simply the tragic death of an
innocent man. It was the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan enacted by the high
priest of Israel no less (e.g., John 18:24)! It was prophesied and anticipated since
Genesis 3:15—the first prophecy of Jesus.
At Cross on Calvary, God's justice and mercy met. Christ
willingly suffered the infinite penalty for sin, satisfying God’s infinite justice
and providing forgiveness and eternal life for those who turn to God and believe
(e.g., John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9).
During the first Passover, the angel passed over the godly
due to the blood of a lamb properly placed. In the instance of eternity, the
blood of the eternal lamb of God, Jesus Christ is was properly and timely
placed about 2,000 years ago. The godly were either looking forward to Christ
or looking back to Him as we do today.
The repetition of the Old Testament Passover lambs pointed
forward to once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. Their blood temporarily protected
Israelite households from physical judgment, but Christ's blood provides
eternal redemption.
Jesus Christ is the final Passover Lamb, whose once-for-all
sacrifice is sufficient for all who trust in Him. His resurrection confirms His
victory, and His sacrifice will never need repeating (Hebrews 10:12-14).
As Revelation 5:12 declares,
saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (NKJV).
□
Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending
6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working
at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as
well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head
of the Oversight Council.
Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in
2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a
501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in
churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.
Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees
from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught
at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of
undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did
research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of
titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test
Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.
His love of science was coupled with a love of history,
philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and
updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr.
Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in
these fields.
*Image by generative program as requested by Bodie Hodge
