Page 16 - The Gate and the Way

males would die.
This aspect of salvation has been embraced by the church today. The church proclaims
the death of Christ as a substitution for mankind. The Son of God died that men might live
before God. Yet, this is not all that occurred on that first Passover. There was much more.
The Israelites were instructed to not only place the blood of the Passover lamb on their
doorways, they were also commanded to eat the lamb and be ready to travel.

Exodus 12:8-11
“They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with
unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with
water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails.
And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until
morning, you shall burn with fire. Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your
loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat
it in haste - it is Yahweh’s Passover.”

What do these things symbolize? The unleavened bread and bitter herbs, along with
the Passover Lamb, were all types and shadows of Christ. The unleavened bread represents
Christ’s sinless life. The bitter herbs symbolize that the life of Christ was very difficult. He
was “a man of sorrows and well acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). In eating each of these
things, the Israelites were acting out annually the coming salvation of God. Not only would
Christ’s blood pay the penalty for the sin of mankind, but Christ would send forth His Spirit
to produce life inside of every man, woman and child who became a partaker of His
salvation. Eating the Passover meal is symbolic of receiving the life of Christ into our
bodies.
A great error in the church today is in thinking that Christ suffered so that they will
not have to suffer. That this is profound error is revealed repeatedly in Christ’s invitation
to men and women to “take up YOUR CROSS and follow Me.” Christ had a cross to bear,
and so too do all who would come to Him for salvation. As the Israelites ate the bitter herbs,
they were giving testimony to this bitter aspect of our union with Christ. Even as we become
partakers of Christ’s life, we also become partakers of His suffering.

II Corinthians 4:7-10
But we have this treasure [the life of Christ] in earthen vessels [our bodies], so that
the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are
afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted,
but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body
the dying of Yahshua, so that the life of Yahshua also may be manifested in our body.

Although Paul wrote these words in the context of the experience of those who are
apostles and ministers, the Bible reveals that this is the common experience of all who are
members of the body of Christ.

I Peter 2:21
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving
you an example for you to follow in His steps...