Israel’s obedience to God’s command stopped the spread of death from going into the land of Goshen, where the Israelites dwelled, on that significant Passover night. God protected those who obeyed by placing the blood of the lamb on their lintels and doorposts (Exodus 12:7, 22-23). 

Is it important to yield to God and learn to obey Him? Yes, if you want to stop the spread of sin and death in your life.

Stopping the spread

Personally, last year’s Passover and this year’s upcoming Passover have had greater meaning due to the emphasis on “stopping the spread” of COVID-19—since this time of year we focus specifically on “stopping the spread” of leaven (sin). This can help us understand how the Passover observance is at the center of God’s purpose to halt the spread of sin and death. 

In the United Church of God, only baptized members partake of the Passover symbols of unleavened bread and wine. Before we baptize anyone, we ask them two questions: 1) Have you repented of your sins? and, 2) Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? These two questions focus on how the Passover observance is key to God’s purpose to end sin and death.

Certainly, the unleavened bread at Passover pictures the broken body of our Savior, Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us. Nevertheless, by repenting of our sins we acknowledge that we are sinners and we show our desire to become unleavened spiritually through the life of Christ in us. This willingness to obey is symbolized by the unleavened bread that we ingest during the Passover service and that we eat throughout the Days of Unleavened Bread. The unleavened bread also symbolizes our allowance of Jesus Christ to live in us (Galatians 2:20) and to perfect us spiritually through the power of the Holy Spirit that we receive at baptism and the laying on of hands. Obedience helps stop the spread of sin and death. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ made it clear that He did not come to do away with the laws of God (Matthew 5:17). Christ said, in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments!”

The blood of the Lamb

By accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, we acknowledge our faith in Him as the Messiah who shed His blood for us, symbolized by the Passover wine.

It was the acceptance of the blood of the lamb as a sacrifice for them and by allowing the blood of the lamb on their lintels and doorposts, personally and collectively, that saved the children of Israel and stopped the spread of death on that Passover night. Accepting Christ as our Savior will do the same for us.

Baptized members partake of these symbols in faith at the Passover service. Once again, our sins are forgiven and we are cleansed, symbolically stopping the spread of sin and death. Sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through forgiveness of our sins in the death of Jesus Christ for us (Romans 6:23).

The Passover lamb was to be without blemish, just as our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was without sin and, therefore, the perfect sacrifice for us. He was tempted in every way, as we are by Satan, but He never yielded to Satan or sin (Hebrews 4:15).

It is our faith in Jesus Christ and it is His faith in us, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, which will give us victory over sin and death.

We renew our baptismal commitment each year as we observe the Passover. We are to walk in newness of life—not death! 

Jesus Christ showed the importance of humility in the spiritual cleansing process by washing the disciples’ feet on His last Passover just before His death. We follow His example and should learn to be our brother’s keeper and follow the Matthew 18 process humbly and faithfully as God intended. We are to help one another grow spiritually. Cleansing oneself and helping others grow spiritually will also help stop the spread of sin and death going forward.

The Passover service is rich in meaning. Let us all do our part in helping stop the spread of sin and death. God will surely do His!