Yes — the three-day examination proved the lamb was without blemish, and it pictures Christ's three years of public ministry under scrutiny.
The lamb was kept up from the tenth to the fourteenth day of the month, and the household watched for any blemish or sign of poor health. If it was whole after three days, it could be killed for the Passover sacrifice. Les Feldick teaches that this is a type of Christ, whose three years of ministry were under complete scrutiny by religious authorities and the public, and no one could accuse Him of wrongdoing.
Exodus 12:3-6 — This passage directly gives the instruction to take the lamb, keep it until the fourteenth day, and ensure it is without blemish.
In Exodus 12, God instructs Moses and Aaron that on the tenth day of the month, each household was to take a lamb, a male of the first year, without blemish, from the sheep or from the goats. The lamb was to be kept up or penned until the fourteenth day of the same month. The implication of keeping it up is that the household was to observe it during those days, looking for any blemish, sign of poor health, or defect. Only if the lamb was whole at the end of those days could it be killed for the Passover sacrifice. The Bible itself does not explicitly state a symbolic meaning for the three days; it simply records the instruction. The purpose stated in the text is to ensure the lamb was without blemish and selected from the flock.
Les Feldick teaches that the lamb being kept up for three days is a beautiful type or picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the household examined the lamb for any blemish during those three days, Christ spent three years of His earthly ministry under complete scrutiny by the religious authorities and the ordinary people. He was not hidden from anyone, and yet no one could point a finger at Him and accuse Him of wrongdoing. He was without spot, without blemish, and without sin. Les makes the direct comparison: the lamb was to be without blemish, a male of the first year, and kept up until the fourteenth day — and in order to prove that Christ was spotless and sinless, He ministered for three years. After this period of proven perfection, the lamb was killed, just as Christ was crucified after His three years of public ministry. Les also connects the Passover lamb to redemption, citing 1 Peter 1:18-19, that we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, which takes us back to Exodus 12.
The purpose was to make certain that the lamb had no blemish. The household was to observe the lamb completely for three days, looking for any sign of poor health or anything wrong with it. Only if at the end of those three days the lamb was whole could they kill it for the Passover sacrifice.
Les Feldick teaches that Christ's three years of ministry are the fulfillment of the three days the lamb was kept up. During those three years, Christ was under complete scrutiny by the religious authorities and the ordinary man in the street. He was not hidden from anyone, yet no one could accuse Him of wrongdoing. This proved that He was without spot and without blemish, making Him worthy to be the Passover Lamb for our redemption.
After the lamb was proved perfect, they were to take of the blood and strike it on the two side posts and the upper doorpost of the house. Les says that in this you can picture the outline of the cross. The lamb was also to be roasted with fire, which Les says was indicative of judgment — just as Christ went through the fires of judgment on the cross.
Les Feldick explains that redemption could not be purchased with corruptible things like silver and gold, but only with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:18-19). This connects all the way back to the Passover lamb in Exodus 12, which had to be perfect without blemish. The high priest also had to go through cleansing rituals, even as the Passover lamb had to be perfect.
Redemption Through Christ the Lamb
Les connects 1 Peter 1:18-19 — redeemed with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish — all the way back to the Passover lamb in Exodus 12.
The Lamb Examined for Three Days
The lamb was kept up for three days to be completely observed for any blemish; Christ's three years of ministry were under complete scrutiny, and no one could accuse Him of wrongdoing.
The Type of the Lamb in Exodus 12:5-6
The lamb without blemish, kept until the fourteenth day, is a beautiful illustration of Christ — and to prove He was spotless and sinless, He ministered for three years.
The Exodus 12 Instruction
Les recounts that the lamb was to be taken out of the flock without blemish, a male of the first year, and kept up for three days until the fourteenth day of the month.
From Adam to the Rapture: God's Plan for the Ages
So, if you'll go back with me to Leviticus, Leviticus chapter 23, and in this chapter we have the seven feasts of Jehovah as they were given to the nation of Israel there at Sinai. When they were given the tabernacle, the priesthood, God also gave them instructions for their seven feast days.
The Blood on the Doorposts and Roasting with Fire
After the lamb was proved, the blood was struck on the two side posts and upper doorpost, and the flesh was roasted with fire — pictures of the cross and judgment.
The Outline of the Cross on the Doorposts
Les points out that the blood on the two side posts and the top forms the outline of the cross, which God had on His mind.
The High Priest and the Unblemished Lamb
Even as the Passover lamb had to be perfect without blemish, the high priest had to go through cleansing rituals — showing the need for absolute purity.
Exodus 12:3: Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
God instructs Israel to take the lamb on the tenth day, beginning the period of examination.
Exodus 12:5: Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
The lamb had to be unblemished and a male of the first year — the standard applied during the examination.
Exodus 12:6: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
This is the command to keep the lamb up — the three-day period of examination — until the fourteenth day.
1 Peter 1:18-19: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Peter connects the redemption price of Christ to the unblemished Passover lamb, showing the fulfillment of the type.
Exodus 12:7: And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
After the lamb was proved, its blood was applied to the doorposts, forming the picture of the cross.
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.
The lamb was roasted with fire, which Les teaches pictures the judgment Christ endured on the cross.
Les Feldick teaches that the three days picture Christ's three years of public ministry. Just as the lamb was observed for three days to prove it had no blemish, Christ was under complete scrutiny for three years, and no one could accuse Him of sin.
They were looking for any blemish, any sign of poor health, or anything wrong with the lamb. If at the end of the three days the lamb was whole, then it could be killed for the Passover sacrifice.
Because Christ is called in 1 Peter 1:19 a lamb without blemish and without spot. Les teaches that His three years of ministry proved His sinlessness, making Him the worthy Passover lamb whose blood redeems us.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Blood? The Bible's Answer to Forgiveness & Faith