Jesus, Our Passover Lamb

Christians have just celebrated Palm Sunday. Good Friday, and Easter. Palm Sunday was the day, 5 days before the Jewish Passover, when Jesus entered Jerusalem. He was greeted by masses of people who scattered palms in his path, thinking he was coming as a political savior. Some of his disciples may also have believed some variety of the same thing. They were to find something very different. He was not to be a political or military savior. He would not bring victory with the sword. Rather he came quietly, knowing that in five days he would be led to slaughter.

It would be hard for us to avoid the symbolism of these events happening during Jewish Passover. Passover was a time to celebrate the deliverance of the Jews from death in Egypt. They had been instructed to smear the blood of a perfect lamb over their doorways on a certain night, so the angel of death would pass over that home as he visited death to the first born of the Egyptians. Jesus became the once-and-for-all Passover Lamb for the Christian. Through His death and resurrection the angel of death is rendered powerless.

And yet, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is even more than that. It is also wrapped up in the meaning of the Jewish Day of Atonement. Jesus shows us the extent to which God is willing to go to show humans how much he loves us, is willing to forgive us, and have a relationship with us. The victory of Easter was one of love, not might. As we attempt to follow the steps of Jesus from Palm Sunday, through the selfless agony of Good Friday, and the victorious empty tomb of Easter morning, we are humbled by the acts of God in Jesus. How confounding it all is. How can it bring about any response from us other than - - "My Lord and my God, I fall to my knees in gratitude and praise for all that Jesus has done for me. Please accept me just now, just as I am. Redeemed, forgiven, saved by the blood of the Lamb."

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!