The Passover lamb was roasted with fire because fire represented God's judgment, and the lamb was a picture of Christ enduring that judgment on the cross.
The biblical account and Les Feldick's teaching show that fire in the Old Testament sacrificial system symbolized judgment for sin. The Passover lamb, required to be roasted (Exodus 12:8-9), foreshadowed the fire of judgment that Christ bore on the cross for our salvation. Les emphasizes that this was not just a cooking method but a spiritual illustration.
Exodus 12:8-9 — These verses give the explicit command to roast the Passover lamb with fire, the basis for understanding the symbolic meaning.
In Exodus 12, God instructs Israel to take a lamb without blemish (verse 5) and to keep it until the fourteenth day (verse 6). Verses 8 and 9 state that they were to eat the flesh 'roast with fire' and 'not eat it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire.' This specific command set the Passover lamb apart as a unique sacrifice. The fire used in roasting parallels the fire on the altar for other sacrifices (Leviticus 1:9, etc.), where fire consumed the offering. Fire in the Old Testament often represents God's holiness and judgment (e.g., Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29). Thus, the Bible clearly links the Passover lamb's roasting with fire to the broader sacrificial system that deals with sin.
Les teaches that the Passover lamb is a rich Old Testament type of Christ, who is called 'our Passover' (1 Corinthians 5:7, [Clip 1]). He explains that every detail of the Passover, from the lamb's selection on the tenth day to its examination for three days, points to Jesus' perfect life and sacrificial death ([Clip 3], [Clip 2]). Regarding the fire, Les emphasizes that fire represents judgment. As the lamb was roasted with fire, it pictured the judgment that Christ would endure on the cross for sin. He connects this to the brazen altar where sacrifices were burned, which was the place of judgment for sin. The lesson today, Les says, is that we must recognize the seriousness of sin—a topic often neglected—and see that Christ bore that judgment in our place ([Clip 0], [Clip 3]).
Les points out that the lamb was to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5) and was observed for three days (Exodus 12:6) to ensure perfection. This pictures Christ's sinless life and His three years of public ministry, during which He proved Himself without sin ([Clip 3]). He also notes that the blood applied to the doorposts formed the outline of a cross ([Clip 1], [Clip 4]), directly pointing to Christ's crucifixion.
According to Les Feldick's teaching, fire on the brazen altar represented the judgment of sin. Sacrifices were burned with fire, and that fire portrayed the judgment that sin deserved. Those sacrifices looked forward to the ultimate sacrifice—Christ—who would take that judgment upon Himself. This is why the Passover lamb had to be roasted with fire, not boiled or raw. The fire was essential to the picture of judgment ([Clip 3]).
The Passover Command in Exodus 12
Les reads Exodus 12 and explains the selection of the lamb, noting that the lamb was taken on the tenth day and kept until the fourteenth, showing the care and scrutiny involved in the process.
Christ Our Passover
Les connects the Passover to Christ, saying 'Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us,' and he highlights the blood applied to the doorposts forming a cross shape.
The Unblemished Lamb
Les reads the requirement for the lamb to be without blemish and a male of the first year, emphasizing the perfection required for the sacrifice.
Three Days of Scrutiny and Fire's Meaning
Les explains that the lamb was kept for three days to check for blemishes, paralleling Christ's perfect life. He then draws the key connection: fire in the sacrificial system represents judgment, and the Passover lamb being roasted with fire pictures Christ's judgment on the cross.
The Blood on the Doorposts
Les describes the application of blood to the doorposts and lintel, noting that it formed the outline of a cross, showing God's intentional foreshadowing of Christ's death.
Old Testament Types for Our Learning
Les explains that Old Testament types and pictures enhance our understanding of New Testament truths, citing Romans 15:4, reminding us that these are written for our learning.
The Passover Lamb as a Type
Les introduces the Exodus 12 narrative and emphasizes that the Passover lamb began 'in type' or 'picture' to be fulfilled in Christ.
Sacrifices Burned Outside the Camp
Les draws a parallel between the burning of sacrificial bodies outside the camp and Jesus suffering 'without the gate,' showing that the fire and reproach of judgment were central to the sacrificial picture.
Exodus 12:8: And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
This is the direct command to roast the lamb with fire, the central verse for the question.
Exodus 12:9: Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire: his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
This reinforces that roasting with fire is the only acceptable method, ruling out other cooking methods.
1 Corinthians 5:7: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
This New Testament verse explicitly identifies Christ as our Passover, showing the Old Testament type is fulfilled in Him.
Because roasting with fire was specifically commanded by God (Exodus 12:8-9). Fire represented judgment, and the lamb was a picture of Christ facing the fires of judgment on the cross. Any other method of preparation would have broken the symbolic meaning.
In Les Feldick's teaching, fire, especially in the context of sacrifice, represents the judgment of sin. The brazen altar and the burning of sacrifices point to the penalty of sin that Christ would ultimately pay on the cross.
The lamb was without blemish, and it was examined for three days, picturing Christ's sinlessness and His ministry. The blood applied to the doorposts formed a cross, and the fire of judgment pointed to Christ's sacrificial death. Les Feldick explains these connections in his teaching.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts