The Passover Lamb
The Passover lamb: without defect, its blood on the doorframe, and none of its bones broken.
The Prophecy
Exodus 12:5-7, 46
~1400 BCE
The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect... they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes... Do not break any of the bones.
Manuscript Attestation
Extensive Qumran Exodus manuscripts; all codices.
Ancient Jewish Interpretation
The Passover lamb as a type of messianic redemption is embedded in Jewish tradition. Isaiah 53:7 explicitly connects the Servant to a lamb: "He was led like a lamb to the slaughter."
The Fulfillment
John 19:36; 1 Corinthians 5:7
These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." (John 19:36) "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Narrative Context
Jesus was crucified during Passover. John notes that unlike the other crucified men, Jesus' legs were not broken (Roman practice to hasten death), fulfilling the Passover requirement. Paul directly identifies Jesus as "our Passover lamb."
The Evidence
Jesus' crucifixion during the Passover festival is attested in all four Gospels and is one of the most historically certain facts about his life, accepted even by skeptical scholars. The Roman practice of breaking legs (crurifragium) to hasten death is documented historically. The fact that Jesus' legs were not broken, while unusual, fulfilled the specific Passover regulation.