Introduction:   Tomorrow is Memorial Day. By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation to honor the memory of those who had died during the Civil War. Then after World War I, the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971 Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. The day of observance was finally established as the last Monday in May. Over the years, the custom has grown in many families to decorate the graves of all departed loved ones.

As Americans in general, and as Christians in particular, we need to honor the memory of those who have died in battle and in the service of our country – we need to appreciate those who have given their lives to ensure our freedom. In the scriptures though, we find that there were some Memorial Days set aside to honor, not a soldier, but a Sovereign - one who had brought about the freedom of His people. Tomorrow, we will remember our fallen soldiers – but today I want us to memorialize our faithful Savior! Tonight we want to remember the Lord and His Redeeming Nature. As we look this evening at Exodus chapter 12, we recognize that this marks the inception of the Passover. So much could be said about this day of memorial in Israel’s history and the spiritual applications for us as believers, but I want us to confine our thought to three aspects of this memorial. This Memorial Reminds Us That…

I.          THE LAMB IS THE START OF OUR JOURNEY (Ex. 12:1-2)

Just as this would mark a new year... This Would Mark:

A.        A New Life For The People Of God

B.        A New Liberty For The People Of God

II.        THE LAMB IS THE SALVATION IN OUR JOURNEY (Exodus 12:3-7, 12-13)

A living lamb is a lovely thing, but it can not save! We are not saved by Christ’s example or His life; we are saved by His death (Heb. 9:22 and Lev. 17:11). The blood of the lamb had to be applied to the door of the house (12:21-28). The word “basin” in 12:22 can mean “threshold,” so that the blood of the lamb was caught in the hollow place at the threshold. The blood was then applied to the lintel over the door and the posts at the sides of the door. Anybody who went out of the house walked through the blood. Christ was slain on the fourteenth day of the month, just at the time when the Passover lambs were being offered. Note that (12:6) God speaks of Israel killing it (the lamb), not them (lambs); for to God, there is but one Lamb—Jesus Christ. Isaac asked, “Where is the lamb?” (Gen. 22:7), and John the Baptist answered in John 1:29, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” All of heaven says, “Worthy is the Lamb!” (Rev. 5:12)

A.        The Slaying Of The Lamb (vs. 3-6, 21)

B.        The Safety Of The Lamb (vs. 7, 12-13, and 22-27)

III.       THE LAMB IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR JOURNEY (Exodus 12:8-11)

A.        The Reception Of The Passover (vs. 8-10)

B.        The Readiness Of The People (vs. 11)

Conclusion:  In 1884 a young man from America died in Florence, Italy. His middle-aged, grieving parents returned to America with the body, and after the funeral they began to discuss some kind of memorial, a living memorial, something that would help other young men like their son. They arranged an appointment with Charles Eliot, then president of Harvard University. He received the couple in his office, asking what he could do for them. They told him about the death of their son, and explained that they wanted to establish a memorial to his memory - something that would help other young men like their son get an education. Eliot looked at the couple with some impatience and disdain and said, “Perhaps you have in mind a scholarship.” They told him that they were thinking of something more substantial than that - perhaps a new university in California. Mrs. Stanford inquired how much the endowment should be, in addition to land and buildings, and he replied that it should be no less than $5 million. A silence followed.  Finally, the man said with a smile, “Well, Jane, we could manage that, couldn’t we?” and his wife nodded. The following year, President Eliot of Harvard learned that the plain, unpretentious couple had contributed $26 million for a memorial to their son. The memorial was to be named Leland Stanford, Jr. University.

As amazing as that is, I want to remind you one more time this tonight of the living memorial that God the Father established for His only begotten Son. In 1 Timothy 3:15, it’s called “the church of the living God.”