阅读经文 

逾越节是一个古老的节日，庆贺神把祂的百姓以色列民从埃及的奴役中拯救出来（约公元前1440年）。以色列人在痛苦的束缚中度过了400多年。百姓哀哭叹息，呼求神的拯救。神看见了百姓的痛苦，听到了他们的呼求，并预备了摩西带领他们进入自由之地，在那里他们可以敬拜耶和华，为主而活。神呼召他们离开埃及，好使他们像光一样照耀，与万国分享从祂而来的祝福。

神给埃及王法老的命令十分紧迫：“容我的百姓去，好侍奉我”。（参出 8:1）但法老心里刚硬，神就降下十灾，表明埃及的假神没有能力帮助他们。其中最后一灾是毁灭性的，每个埃及家庭都丧失了长子。而每个以色列家庭都宰了羊作为代赎，把羊血涂在门框上。那天晚上，神越过了以色列人家，不让死亡发生在其中。但他们以外的其他家庭里的长子都死了。

就这样，以色列人获得了自由。每户人家献上的羊羔的血是一个代赎标志，宣告死亡不再进入。这个标志指向耶稣，祂的死使我们从罪的诅咒和奴役中获得自由。

Passover is an ancient feast that celebrates God's deliverance of his people Israel from slavery in Egypt (around 1440 B.C.). Israel had been in bitter captivity for more than 400 years. The people groaned and cried out to God for deliverance. God saw the people's suffering, heard their cry, and prepared Moses to lead them to freedom, where they could worship and live for the Lord. God called them out of Egypt so that they could shine like a light and share his blessings with all nations.

God's command to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, was urgent: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me" (Exodus 8:1). But Pharaoh hardened his heart, and God sent ten plagues, showing that the false gods of Egypt had no power to help them. The last plague was devastating, bringing death to the firstborn in every Egyptian family. Every Israelite family sacrificed a lamb and put its blood on their doorframe. That night God passed over those houses and would not let death enter. But in all other houses the firstborn died.

So Israel was set free. The blood of the lamb that was sacrificed for each household was a sign that death could not enter there. And this sign pointed to Jesus, whose death once for all sets us free from the curse and slavery of sin.