This blood shall be a sign for you… and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. – Exodus 12:13
Signs are familiar things. From signs informing you of the speed limit to what flavor of ice cream is the day’s special, you see signs everywhere. The Bible calls out signs as well. Theologian and professor Dr. John Currid wrote, “A sign is a physical symbol that points to a spiritual reality; that is, the people inside the houses covered with blood belong to Yahweh. The blood does not cause the people to be Yahweh’s, but simply acts as a billboard proclaiming the fact.” At the first Passover, blood on the doorposts and lintel of a home was a sign to the avenging angel not to enter that house.
Pastor and Bible scholar S. Lewis Johnson said in a sermon, “’I will pass over you’ speaks of the safe keeping and protection provided through the sacrifice of the substitute.” The blood of the lamb provided the power of God to save those Hebrews who applied it. From that day to this, Passover is remembered as a time when the Lord protected and saved His people.
For the Christ follower, the Lamb of God is acknowledged as the One who came to Earth, lived a perfect unblemished life, and offered Himself up as a sacrifice for the salvation of the whole world. He had celebrated that memorial feast with His disciples, ordering up for them a new covenant in His blood. By the bread, symbolizing His body, and the wine depicting His shed blood (Luke 22:14-22), He instituted a new memorial feast, one in which believers participate to this day—communion, the Lord’s Supper, or the Eucharist.
Songwriter Andre Crouch put it this way: “The blood that Jesus shed for me, way back on Calvary, the blood that gives me strength from day to day, it will never lose its power.” Give thanks today for the saving, life-giving, protective blood of the Lamb of God.
Today’s Verse: Exodus 12:13
The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 1:29-37
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
