Digging Deeper Week of Feb 4th

Day 1  

Read: Exodus 12:1-14

Background: This passage takes place right before God delivers the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. After nine plagues, Pharaoh still refused to let them go, so God instituted the Passover. He had each family take an unblemished lamb, slaughter it, and put the blood on their doorposts. That night, the destroying angel passed through Egypt, killing the firstborn in each home without the lamb’s blood. This final plague convinced Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. God instructed them to remember this deliverance each year by celebrating the Passover feast.

Key words:

– Passover (pascha) – referring to God’s act of passing over the houses marked with lamb’s blood.

– Unleavened (azumos) – bread made without yeast.

Key idea:

– The Passover lamb sacrifice pointed to Christ’s sacrifice as the Lamb of God (Bible Knowledge Commentary).

Questions for reflection:

– Why did God want the Israelites to observe the Passover annually?

– What did the lamb and unleavened bread symbolize?

– How does Passover point forward to Christ’s sacrifice?

Application: Sacrifice one thing today (food, drink, leisure, media, etc) and spend extra time meditating on and thanking Jesus for His sacrifice.

Day 2

Read: Luke 22:14-23

Background: Jesus and His disciples met in an upper room to celebrate the Passover meal on the night before His crucifixion. Jesus knew this would be His last Passover before giving His life as the ultimate sacrifice. As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, saying it represented His body given for them. Then He took the cup of wine and said it represented the new covenant in His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins.

Key words:

– Covenant (diatheke) – an agreement or promise between God and man.

Key idea:

– Jesus established the new covenant by becoming a sin offering for us (Grudem’s Systematic Theology).

Questions for reflection:

1. Why did Jesus choose the Passover meal to institute the Lord’s Supper?

2. What did the bread and wine represent?

3. What new covenant did His death establish?

Apply: Since you are a benefactor of the new Covenant of Grace, practice extending grace to someone specific today.

Day 3  

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Background: Writing to the Corinthian church, Paul reminds them of the sacred tradition of the Lord’s Supper that he received directly from Jesus. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread and wine and explained they represented His body and blood, sacrificed for them. Paul explains that when believers take communion together, they proclaim the saving death of Christ until He returns. This should be done with self-examination and remembrance. 

Key words:

– Proclaim (kataggello) – to declare or announce publicly.

Key idea:

– The Lord’s Supper proclaims the Lord’s death until He comes, and is to be celebrated with reverence (1 Cor. 11:26; Expositor’s Bible Commentary).

Questions for reflection:

1. Why does participating in the Lord’s Supper proclaim Christ’s death?

2. Why is it important to take communion with reverence and self-examination?

3. What should you do if self-examination reveals sin?

Apply: Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ is just done at the Lord’s Supper, it can be lived out and spoken of daily. Find one way to proclaim his death, burial and resurrection to one person today.

Day 4

Read: Hebrews 9:11-28

Background: The book of Hebrews explains how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament priestly system. While the high priests offered repeated sacrifices that could never fully atone for sin, Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice once and for all. His blood ratified a new, eternal covenant that redeemed believers from sin and death forever. Now He appears in God’s presence, interceding for His people.

Key word:

– Priest (hiereus) – one who officiates at a sacrificial altar, offering gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Key idea:

– Jesus serves as the perfect High Priest, offering Himself as the only sacrifice needed for all time (Grudem’s Systematic Theology).

Questions for reflection:

1. Why was it necessary for Jesus to serve as High Priest? What did His priestly sacrifice accomplish?

2. How is Jesus superior to the Levitical priests and the sacrifices they offered?

3. What assurance does Jesus’ eternal priesthood give you? How does it impact your relationship with God?

Apply: Thank Jesus, your great High Priest, for tearing the curtain and providing direct access to God through His sacrifice. Approach God’s throne with confidence with your prayers today.

Day 5

Read: 1 Peter 1:17-21

Background: Peter reminds believers that they were redeemed from sin through the precious blood of Christ, like a Passover lamb without blemish or defect. Jesus was chosen and destined by God before the foundation of the world to be the sacrifice that would bring salvation. Through His blood, those who believe are able to have sincere love for each other and live in obedience to the truth.

Key words:

– Redeem (lytroomai) – to release or liberate through a ransom payment.

Key idea:

– Christ’s sacrifice redeems us from sin, setting us free to live in holiness (Bible Knowledge Commentary).

Questions for reflection:

1. What has His sacrifice ransomed you from?

2. How should a redeemed life look different than one still enslaved to sin?

3. What needs to change in your life to live fully redeemed?

Apply: Reflect on the cost of your redemption and actively turn from any sin God reveals.