exodus

The Greek word ἔξοδος (exodos) comes from the word for road and literally means “road out.” Extending from this sense, it also can mean departure or death. We see in this passage, then, an intentional pun. Moses and Elijah are indeed speaking of Jesus’ departure from this earth, but at the same time, they intend to call to mind the departure of the people of Israel from the land of Egypt in a way they would know better than most.

At the time of Moses, the Israelites were slaves. Through their exodus, Moses led them out of slavery. After 40 years wandering in the wilderness they ultimately came to a land overflowing with milk and honey, and God made this land their own. We likewise are slaves on this earth. Through his Passion and death, Jesus offers us a way out of that slavery, but the way is not immediate. We first must wander through this wilderness that is not our home until we have purged ourselves of the influences of this world. Then and only then can we come to possess the true land of our promise, the kingdom of heaven.

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Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is a five-lesson Catholic Bible study offering an in-depth look at the biblical foundations of the movie The Passion of the Christ. This revised study, which has been granted an imprimatur, contains all of the original material of the 2004 edition as well as many new features in an improved, reader-friendly format. Free digital lessons of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering are available on our website during Lent. Click here to view a sample of the first lesson.

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