An Easter devotion from Priscila Rodrigues, pastora in the Amazon
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 confronts us with the seriousness of sin and the magnificence of Christ’s work. Here, Paul shows us that something as small as yeast can affect the entire dough; likewise, sin, even though it may seem insignificant, can contaminate an entire community. The exhortation is clear: just as the Jews removed yeast from their homes during Passover to symbolize purification (Exodus 12:18-20), Christians should remove sin from their lives, recognizing the purification brought by Christ through his sacrifice on the cross.
In the Old Testament, the Passover feast was a shadow of what was to come. The slaughtered lamb and the blood sprinkled on the doorposts not only ensured Israel’s physical liberation from Egypt but also pointed to the deeper and definitive redemption that would be achieved by the Lamb of God. Whether they understood it or not, every time Jewish families celebrated Passover, they were actually “prophesying” the day when the Lamb of God would shed his blood for all humanity.
Spiritually speaking, Jesus’ blood can be applied to our hearts to save us from death and the wrath of God. It’s not a mere coincidence that the final meal Jesus ate with his disciples, where He taught the significance of breaking bread and the cup, has a connection to the annual practice of Passover. When Jesus was presented by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, he was called the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
I am grateful to have been reached by this message and even more so to be able to announce it, especially to our riverside people
The work of the cross still destroys the power of death. Just as the first Passover was a celebration of liberation, the blood today is a sign of God’s love and forgiveness and His power to free us from both the penalty and the power of sin. This Passover period makes me reflect on the great love and grace of God the Father, with whom we have peace through Christ. I am grateful to have been reached by this message and even more so to be able to announce it, especially to our riverside people, so that everyone may find hope in Him, know Him, and worship Him.
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7b – ESV)
Read another Easter message from Pastor Esdras Silva.
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