Cornerstone Notes

Passover Service at Cornerstone Chapel Wednesday Night before Easter (coinciding with actual Jewish Passover)

Gary Hamrick (Pastor, Cornerstone Chapel)
Lon Solomon (Former Senior Pastor of McLean Bible Church, 1980–2017; now on radio with “Not a Sermon, Just a Thought”)

Purpose of the Service: To highlight how Jesus Christ is revealed in the Passover story and to prepare hearts for Easter through communion.
The Jewish Passover began that evening in Israel (6–7 hours ahead of local time).

Raised in a Jewish home in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Got saved at UNC-Chapel Hill through a street evangelist at age 22.
Was deeply involved in drugs and smuggling before conversion.
Married to Brenda for 52 years; 4 children, 8 grandchildren.
Founded Jill’s House ministry (inspired by daughter Jill) at McLean Bible Church.
This was his first public stage appearance in 9 years since retiring in 2017.
Emphasized obedience at life’s “forks in the road” – always choosing the hardest, faith-requiring path that God directed, which has never let him down.

God established the first Passover while Israel was in Egypt.
Instructions: Select a spotless male lamb on the 10th day, kill it on the 14th at twilight.
Apply the lamb’s blood to the doorposts and lintel (forming a cross shape).
Eat the roasted lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
When God saw the blood, He would “pass over” that house and not strike the firstborn.

The blood of the lamb was the only thing that saved people from judgment — not being Jewish or Egyptian.
An Egyptian under the blood was spared; a Jew without the blood perished.
Every Old Testament feast, including Passover, was designed to point to Christ.
Core lesson: God’s holiness demands judgment for sin, but He passes over those covered by the blood of the sacrificial lamb.
The blood on the doorposts prefigures the blood of Jesus on the cross.

Jesus is the spotless Lamb whose blood provides the covering that satisfies God’s justice and extends mercy.
Romans 3:23–25 – All have sinned; God provided righteousness through the blood of Christ.
God remains just (sin is paid for by death) while justifying sinners who trust in Jesus’ blood.
The modern rabbinic Seder does not point to Jesus; however, elements such as the broken matzah and four cups of wine carry clear Messianic symbolism.

Lon Solomon gave a clear gospel presentation emphasizing that the only hope of heaven is being covered by the blood of Jesus.
Led a sinner’s prayer for those wanting to trust Christ.
Encouraged new believers to find a Bible-teaching church and grow through discipleship.