Creator, Father, King #74

When I see the blood, I will pass over you.

IMAGINE BEING AN ISRAELITE on that first Passover night more than three thousand years ago. You probably would have felt a mixture of excitement, reverence, and fear.

For 430 years, the Jews—the children of God’s promise through Abraham—had been cruelly enslaved in Egypt. Now, the night of their salvation was at hand. God was about to send a final plague that would shatter Pharaoh’s arrogance and humble an entire nation by striking down all firstborn males in every family. To avoid this terrible judgment, the Israelites had to follow God’s specific command (outlined in Exodus 12):

1. Kill a one-year-old male lamb (or goat) without defect.
2. Sprinkle its blood on the sides and top of the doorframe of their house.
3. Roast and eat the edible parts with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
4. Eat it while dressed in travel clothes and prepared to leave quickly.
5. Remain until morning and then leave Egypt.

While Egypt suffered judgment, all Israel obeyed and God “passed over” them. Why did the Lord use such a unique method to save his people?

What’s It Mean?

Through Passover, God wanted to teach Israel (and us!) a vital lesson: the blood of the sacrificial lamb will save you.

Because of our sin, we all deserve God’s wrath, just like the ancient Egyptians. God saved Israel by accepting the sacrifice of a spotless lamb—represented by the blood over each Israelite house. To be saved, they had to be “under the blood.”

Afterward, God instructed his people to celebrate Passover annually and set up an elaborate system of animal sacrifices—because sin requires blood payment. To save a life from sin, a life must be taken (Hebrews 9:22).

But before you construct an altar in your backyard, remember 1 Corinthians 5:7: “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us”!

We don’t need to observe Passover or sacrifice spotless lambs today because Jesus died and rose again to take away our sins once and for all. The Old Testament Passover and sacrifices were ultimately pointing forward to God’s Son, the perfect Lamb, whose sacrifice was sufficient to wash away our sins.

All Christians who have put their faith in God’s Savior are “under the blood” of Christ. The sacrifice of Jesus, the true Passover Lamb, will save you!

Now What?

Read Exodus 12; Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29-36; and 1 Peter 1:19 to make a cool connection between Passover and Jesus.

Did You Know?

Passover was so significant for the Jews that God told them to start their ancient calendar in the month it happened (Exodus 12:2).