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Answer: There are three biblical regulations, which
relate directly to a study of the claim that Jesus was
the ultimate passover lamb whose cosmic role is interwoven
with the paschal commemoration and its symbolism. The
Israelites must offer the blood of the sacrifice without
leaven (Exodus 34:25).
The Israelites must not break any bones of the paschal
lamb (Exodus 12:46). The Israelites must sacrifice the
paschal lamb only at the place appointed by God (Deuteronomy
16:5-6). The Torah specifies that these ordinances are
given solely to the Jewish people, who alone are commanded
to sacrifice the paschal lamb. However, the Romans executed
Jesus. It will not do to say that the Jews handed Jesus
over to the Romans. Fulfillment of the commandments
could only come through following the procedure set
down by God.
The Law is clear: The sacrifice of the paschal lamb,
without blemish and within the year of its birth (Exodus
12:5), is only ordained for the Jewish people (Exodus
12:14). To them alone is given the additional command
not to break the bones of the paschal lamb (Numbers
9:12). Despite this fact, the supposed non-breaking
of Jesus' bones in order to fulfill the commandment
is credited by the New Testament to the pagan Roman
soldiers (John 19:36). The Romans were never bound by
the law, so that crediting them with fulfillment of
a Passover commandment is irrelevant.
Not only was it incumbent upon the Jewish people alone
to sacrifice the paschal lamb, but the geographic location
for the shedding of sacrificial blood was specified.
The paschal sacrifice could only be offered at the Temple
altar (Leviticus 17:11, Deuteronomy 16:5-6). The Temple,
itself, was situated within the city of Jerusalem. However,
the New Testament locates the site of Jesus' execution
outside both the Temple and the city of Jerusalem (John
19:20, Hebrews 13:12). In addition, the specific date
for the paschal sacrifice is the late afternoon of 14
Nisan (Exodus 12:6). If the Last Supper were a seder,
then the Synoptic Gospels' chronology would date the
crucifixion on 15 Nisan. |
