April 28, 2026 WEST

In today's reading, we encounter one of the most pivotal moments in Israel's history—the institution of Passover in Exodus 12. This isn't just a historical ceremony; it's a profound picture of redemption that points directly to Jesus Christ. The requirement that families choose their lamb on the 10th day but not sacrifice it until the 14th reveals something crucial about sacrifice: it should cost us something. Living with that lamb for four days meant growing attached, caring for it, loving it—making the sacrifice genuinely painful. This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God. We're also reminded that God completely rearranged Israel's calendar around this event, declaring it the beginning of their year. This speaks powerfully to our own lives—when we truly place our faith in Christ and apply His blood to the doorposts of our hearts, that's when our new life begins. Everything before becomes the past; we step into a new timeline with God. The repeated emphasis on 'remember' throughout Scripture isn't about the opposite of forgetting—it's about being presently mindful, pausing to truly absorb what God has done. We're called not just to go through religious motions, but to be fully present with God, intentionally recalling His faithfulness so we never walk away from His presence.