Anointing the Feet and Head of the Passover Lamb? by Dr. Terry Harman

Anointing the feet of the Passover Lamb

Creative Liberty with the Passover Lamb

The image of the Passover lamb has always carried deep meaning, first in Jewish faith and later among Christians who see in it the redemptive mission of Jesus the Messiah. Across centuries, artists and teachers have drawn connections between the Exodus story and the Gospel message.

In our own time, The Chosen series and teacher Shane Willard have added their voices to that tradition, presenting Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. These creative portrayals are beautiful expressions of faith and art working together. But they also invite an important question: what do Scripture and Jewish tradition actually say about how the Passover lamb was prepared?

The Chosen TV Series

In The Chosen (Season 4, Episode 8: “Humble”), there’s a moving scene where young King David anoints a lamb’s feet six days before the Passover. He wraps the lamb in cloth and keeps it safe inside until it’s time for sacrifice. The image powerfully echoes the New Testament story of Mary anointing Jesus before His death, a tender, wordless act of devotion.

Shane Willard once shared a similar teaching in a 2010 message, describing how the lamb was supposedly chosen six days before, examined for blemishes, and anointed first on its feet, later on its head. He traced this insight to another minister who had studied under a rabbi, though no direct sources were cited.

Such teachings bring touching symbolism, connecting the Passover deliverance with Jesus’ final week before the cross. Scripture and early Jewish writings ground the story in history rather than allegory.

Exodus 12 gives a detailed account of the first Passover. The lamb was to be chosen on the tenth day of the month, inspected for blemishes, and sacrificed at twilight on the fourteenth day. It was to be tamim—whole, without defect. But the text makes no mention of any anointing with oil, and neither the Mishnah nor the Talmud describes such a ritual.

In fact, rabbinic sources like Pesachim focus on precise instructions for inspection, slaughter, and roasting. The lamb had to be physically perfect, but oil played no role in the ceremony. The emphasis was on purity and completeness, reflecting Israel’s covenant wholeness before God. It’s also worth noting that the Passover lamb was never a sacrifice for sin. In Jewish thought, it represented freedom and allegiance, an act of defiance against Egypt’s gods and Pharaoh’s power.

The Passover was about redemption from slavery and the birth of a people under God’s protection.

Later, Christian theology drew upon the lamb’s imagery to describe redemption from sin. The two ideas, freedom from bondage and salvation from sin, speak to the same divine mercy, though they arise from different historical moments.

So, where does that leave the idea of an “anointed lamb”? It seems to be a modern creative interpretation meant to illustrate a spiritual truth rather than a literal ancient practice. There’s beauty in that symbolism, but it’s good to remember where Scripture ends and artistic imagination begins.

When seen in its proper context, the Passover lamb still is a powerful symbol of liberation, reminding us that freedom, faith, and covenant identity stand at the center of God’s story of redemption.

To go deeper into the meaning and preparation of the Passover lamb, you can find related studies linked at the end of this post.

References

• Hertz, J. H. The Pentateuch and Haftorahs. Soncino Press, 1960. — A foundational Jewish commentary with detailed notes on Exodus 12.

• Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, ch. 14. Hendrickson Publishers, 1987. — A first-century historian describing Israel’s customs.

• Mishnah: Pesachim 5–9, trans. Herbert Danby. Oxford University Press, 1933. — Rabbinic regulations for Passover lamb preparation.

• Philo of Alexandria. On the Life of Moses. Loeb Classical Library, 1935. — Philosophical reflections on Moses and ritual meaning.

• Sifra: Emor, Parashah 13, trans. Jacob Neusner. Scholars Press, 1988. — Explains sacrificial purity laws and unblemished offerings.

• The Hebrew Bible: Exodus 12. JPS Tanakh, 1985. — Primary text detailing the institution of Passover.

• The Chosen. “Humble.” Season 4, Episode 8. Angel Studios, 2024. — A modern depiction linking Jesus’ anointing to Passover imagery.

• Talmud Bavli: Pesachim 64a–70b, Soncino Press, 1935–1952. — Rabbinic discussion confirming that inspection, not anointing, was required.

• Willard, Shane. “2010 (3 of 4): Audio Transcript.” Mike Connell Ministries, 2010. — A sermon suggesting the symbolic anointing of the Passover lamb.

Author’s Note

This study is offered in deep respect for both Jewish and Christian traditions. Artistic portrayals like those in The Chosen can open our hearts to wonder, but the Scriptures themselves tell a powerful story grounded in covenant and history. The more clearly we see where history ends and interpretation begins, the more deeply we can appreciate the God who still redeems.

How You Can Thank Me

If you enjoyed reading this post and you're wondering how you can thank me, here’s what I ask: Take the inspiration you’ve found here and pass it on.

Consider donating your time, talents, or treasure to a worthy cause in your community. Maybe there’s a widow who could use help with her yard. Perhaps you know someone who’s recently lost a job and could use a helping hand. Maybe your local community center, homeless shelter, or school program is looking for mentors; step in and support them.

Look within your own religious or spiritual community. What needs do you see around you? Where can you make a difference?

You don’t need a lot. Just do what you can, with what you have, to make this world a better place. Your kindness will ripple out farther than you can imagine. Thank you for being here, for reading, and for choosing to be a light.

Shalom, Terry