We’re continuing our look at the 613 laws of Moses and focusing on the Passover instructions. We’ve attempted to show that the Mosaic code was either repealed or modified in the New Testament (and in some cases reinstated in the future Millennial temple). However sometimes its not as simple as either-or, rather we’ll see some of the laws are strangely tied together, and while they are repealed by association with the umbrella law (i.e. if Passover is no longer mandated, neither are the procedural laws for Passover), they are also fulfilled!
The Passover Lamb as we’ve noted earlier was Jesus the Messiah – the Lamb of God. And we see an interesting procedural law for the Passover – that nothing of it should remain until morning.
And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
Exodus 12:10
Often times I try to look at the Old Testament prophecies from the eyes of those who heard them – i.e. could they have pieced together the clues to understand what the New Testament revealed? And Peter tells us – they often couldn’t – they literally did not understand what they said – because God prophesied thru them – and they weren’t able at that time to figure it out but they tried! To be fair – some things they could put together – others they could not.
Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1 Peter 1:10-11
So would any of Moses’ hearers have noticed the connection between the Passover Lamb and the execution of a sinner worthy of death?
And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 21:20-21
The Passover Lamb must be without blemish – and yet the convict is morally blemished. Why the connection that neither can remain overnight?
[57] When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
Matthew 27:57-60
[58] He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
[59] And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
[60] And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
The Passover Lamb was removed the day it was offered, because of the Jews concern for another law:
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
John 19:31
The death of the Lamb who took the curse – yet prevented the Land from being defiled – rather brought healing to the Land!
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Galatians 3:13
For further elements of the burial of Jesus, check out John MacArthur discussing the Supernatural Burial of Jesus – that this was a funeral He planned!
Dispensationalism and the Law 