What connections exist between Exodus 12:23 and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Key Verse: Exodus 12:23 “When the LORD passes through to strike Egypt, and He sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over that door and will not allow the Destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.” Original Setting: Protection in a Night of Judgment • Israel’s firstborn deserved death no less than Egypt’s, yet substitutionary blood shielded them. • The “Destroyer” could only be restrained when the LORD Himself recognized the blood. • The lamb’s blood on wood became the visible line between life and death. The Destroyer Held Back by Blood • God’s wrath is real and personal; blood is His appointed means of turning it away (Leviticus 17:11). • No other sign—morality, lineage, sincerity—could replace the blood. • The same principle governs salvation at the cross (Romans 5:9). Jesus, the Final Passover Lamb • 1 Corinthians 5:7—“For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.” • Parallels: – Lamb without blemish (Exodus 12:5) ⇨ Jesus sinless (1 Peter 1:19). – Blood on wooden doorframe ⇨ blood on wooden cross. – Death of Egypt’s firstborn ⇨ death of God’s “one and only Son” (John 3:16). – Passover at twilight ⇨ Jesus’ sacrifice as darkness fell (Matthew 27:45). Substitution and Salvation • The innocent dies so the guilty can live—foreshadowing penal substitution (Isaiah 53:5). • Hebrews 9:12—Christ entered the Most Holy Place “by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.” • Just as the Destroyer could not cross the bloodline, eternal judgment cannot touch those under Christ’s blood. Freedom From Bondage • Passover night led directly to Israel’s exodus from slavery. • Jesus’ sacrifice frees believers from sin’s mastery (Romans 6:6; John 8:36). • Deliverance is not merely legal; it launches a journey toward promised inheritance. Individual yet Corporate Covering • Blood had to be applied to each doorway; no household could rely on a neighbor’s lintel. • Salvation through Christ is personally received by faith (John 1:12) yet forms a redeemed community (1 Peter 2:9). Visible Sign, Invisible Salvation • The lamb’s blood was simple—no spectacle—yet decisive. • In the gospel, saving power is hidden from worldly eyes (1 Corinthians 1:18) but mighty before God. • Believers “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7), trusting the sufficiency of the blood. Urgency and Completeness • Israel had to act that very evening; delay meant death. • Today, “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). • Christ’s sacrifice is once for all, perfectly complete (Hebrews 10:10). Ongoing Memorial • Annual Passover kept the rescue fresh in Israel’s memory. • Jesus transformed the meal into communion: “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20). • The Lord’s Supper keeps His cross central until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26). Living Under the Blood Today • Rest: confidence that judgment has already passed over. • Obey: a redeemed life displays gratitude (Titus 2:14). • Worship: proclaim “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12). • Witness: invite others to shelter under the same saving blood. |
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