Seven Miles From Jerusalem Vol. One

On the day that Jesus rose from the dead, two of His followers were on a seven mile journey from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. A stranger joins them along the way. They converse about the extraordinary events surrounding Jesus and His resurrection. As they reasoned, the stranger said “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and enter into His glory?" They would soon find out that the stranger was actually Jesus himself. Then beginning with Moses, Jesus shows them how the Old Testament scriptures point to Him. This would be a Bible lesson they would never forget. After their eyes were opened to see that the stranger was Jesus they exclaimed “Did not our hearts burn within us as He spoke to us and opened up the scriptures?”       
 
Just as this passage, in Luke chapter 24, shows Jesus teaching about himself from the Old Testament we would be wise to follow suit. The Old Testament is rich with not only messianic prophecies but also types and shadows of Jesus. Themes of mercy, grace, redemption, sacrifice and salvation run all through its pages. In this blog series, I will highlight just a few of these edifying gems that ties the Old and New Testaments together by the thread of Jesus.
 
Passover: Exodus Chapter 12
 
The children of Israel are being held captive by the Egyptians. In their suffering and cry for help God sends Moses. After multiple plagues are brought against the Egyptians, Pharaoh remains determined to hold the Hebrews captive which sets the stage for the Passover. The Lord gives the instructions for every man to take for his household a lamb without blemish. At a set time they shall kill their lamb and sprinkle blood on the two doorpost and the lintel of their houses. On that night the Lord will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down all the firstborn of the Egyptians. Houses marked with blood from the lamb will be passed over by the Lord with no harm coming to those who remain inside.  
 
The apostle Paul, in 1Corintians 5:7, identifies Christ as our Passover who was sacrificed for us. Just as the children of Israel were held in bondage and needed to be set free, all of mankind is bound by the chains of sin and is in need of deliverance. Jesus came as the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Being perfect and without blemish He shed His blood for us. Rising from the dead on the third day so that whoever believes in Him will be seen and accepted as righteous by God.

From the Passover we also get a very interesting visual. Notice how the blood is applied to the top of the door frame and then to the far right and the far left as well.  This is a picture of the coming Messiah, Jesus, who bled from His head and His outstretched hands, one to the left and the other to the right. The blood of the lamb was applied to the doorpost as a sign marking those to be protected. The blood of Jesus brings freedom and protection for those who remain in Him.

Stay tuned for more ‘Seven Miles From Jerusalem’ where we will see Jesus again.