Youths with scrolls
A lad carries the Paschal Lamb,
slain in sacrifice by the Jews in Moses' day (13th - cent. B.C.) and ever since. When God punished the first - born son in every family in Egypt on the eve of the great Jewish exodus, the Israelites were them - selves saved from death with the help of the blood of the lamb sprinkled on the door-posts (Exodus 12:1-33). Similarly, the rest of us are saved from sin and hell in virtue of the Precious Blood of Christ shed for us on Calvary. "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29; 19:36). There was this great coincidence : the Lamb of God lay dying on the cross exactly when lambs in their thousands were being slain in the Temple courts in readiness for the Jewish Passover which was to begin at sunset that very day (cf. John 18:28).
John the Baptist
I indeed baptise you in water unto penance : but He that shall come after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I'm not worthy to bear. He shall baptise you in the Holy Sprit and fire.
Two Youths with scrolls
Moses
Just as Moses saved the Israelites from slavery under the Pharaohs in Egypt in the 13th-century B.C., so Christ saved mankind from Slavery under Satan. Moses is seen to carry the brazen serpent raised on a pole : this, too, is a type of Christ's healing death on the cross. For, just as the Israelites bitten by fiery serpents in the desert were healed by merely setting their gaze upon Moses' brazen serpent (Numbers 21:4-9), we are healed from the dire consequences of sin if only we cast "one longing lingering look" at the Crucified Lord.
Aaron Moses' Brother
on the other hand, carries his miraculous rod with him. The budding of Aaron's rod (Numbers 17:8) was God's way of positively setting forth His approval and acceptance of Aaron as the High Priest of Israel. To that extent Aaron's High Priesthood prefigures the eternal Priesthood of Christ.
A crown of thorns, a scroll, and three nails
Our Lord spoke seven times from the cross.
We know them as His Seven Last Words. They are :
( 1 )
"Father, Forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:43).
( 2 )
"Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
( 3 )
"Woman, behold, your son ! Behold, your mother !" (John 19:27)
( 4 )
"I thirst" (John 19:27).
( 5 )
"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
( 6 )
"It is finished" (John 19:30).
( 7 )
"Father,into Thy hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
Scene 9 Part B - Continue >>
E-mail Danny Apap: dannyapap@maltesemail.com
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