“And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.” (v.7)
The Israelites were to take a lamb for a sacrifice, and, with very specific instructions, eat it as the death angel swept through the country, killing the first-born of Egypt. They had to remain indoors, and strike, (paint) the doorposts and the lintels with the blood from their sacrificial lamb. If Israel had not obeyed, to the letter, they would have reaped the judgment of Egypt too. God expects obedience from His people. Notice though, a very important detail here, when they struck the doorposts and lintel with blood, an invisible cross was formed! They had to pass under the blood, or through it, to get back inside where they were safe. If you were to draw an imaginary line from one side to the other, and then from the top lintel to the ground, a cross would be formed. They had to hide behind the cross, just as we do today to be saved from judgment. They too had to hide behind the blood, as well as pass under it to get to a place of safety. What a message! Praise God for the blood of Christ! This is an excellent picture of the redemption by blood—the blood of the Lamb! Hebrews 9:22 tells us: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” There is nothing more precious than the redeeming blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19).
This time of Passover corresponds with our Easter, which is mentioned in Acts 12:4. This was a holiday for the Jews, as it is for us today. There is nothing wrong with celebrating Easter when we celebrate it unto the Lord, it is our Passover. God said “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” and folks, He still will pass over us today with His hand of judgment. There is no condemnation to those of us who are in Christ, (Rom. 8:1).
Let me ask you, dear reader, “are you washed in the blood of the Lamb”? Are your sins washed away in Him? If so, celebrate the day that you were redeemed, as an holy day, for indeed it was. Let it be a memorial to you, and a tribute to your Lord. Everlasting life is worth celebrating!
