Page 31 - Laying Down the Law

what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

Most Christians perceive that the ceremonial parts of the Law served as shadows
of things to come. For example, Yahweh delivered through Moses instructions for the
children of Israel to annually observe three major feasts, which in their several parts
break down to seven individual events. The first of these feasts is Passover.
The first Passover was observed just prior to Israel’s departure from slavery in
Egypt. For a period of five days each family was to take a spotless lamb into their
th
th
th
homes (from the 10 to the 14 of the first month). On the 14 day of the month they
were all to slay the lamb, and place some of the blood on the doorposts and lintel of
their homes. They were commanded to roast and eat the lamb, leaving nothing over
until the next day. There were other associated rituals such as removing all leaven
from the home for a period of seven days leading up to the night of Passover, eating
the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and standing dressed and fully
ready with staff in hand to depart (Exodus 12). Every detail is symbolic, and points
to some work fulfilled in Christ.
When Christ was born of a virgin, lived among mankind, and completed the
work the Father gave Him to do, the substance of Passover was realized. For a period
of time all Israel had the Lamb of God to dwell among them. They beheld His form
and observed Him to be spotless and without blemish. Pilate examined Him and
testified, “I find no fault in Him.”
On the Passover the Jews crucified the Son of God, and spoke the words, “Let
His blood be upon us and upon our children.” It was a bitter experience as the Bread
of Life was broken. Yet those who receive His sacrifice in faith as an atonement for sin
are passed over by death. They are invited to eat the Lamb of God, for His flesh is true
meat, and His blood is true drink. These words are Spirit and they are life, indicating
that we are to receive every part of Christ, not just that which is attractive to the
appetites of man. We are to receive Him into our being. We are then to be ready to
immediately depart from a worldly life of slavery to sin and follow Yahweh as He
leads us through wilderness experiences on the way to the land of our inheritance.
There may be some groups who profess to be Christian who slay a lamb every
Passover and eat it with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. (Most who observe
Passover buy their lamb at the grocery store.) Some may even take some of the blood
and put it on their doorways. However, such re-enactments of the shadow of Christ’s
atoning work are no longer required. The substance has surpassed the shadow
contained in the Law. Yahweh will no longer have regard for the blood of a lamb, for
He has accepted the perfect offering of the blood of His Son. The blood is never to be
offered again.

Hebrews 10:1-9
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very
image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer
continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.... For it is not