RECOLLECTION: REMEMBER THE BLOOD


Christ, Our Passover

Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 5:7


      At the start of the Texas war for independence in December 1835, volunteers occupied the Alamo, an 18th-century mission in San Antonio. In February 1836 a Mexican army of several thousand began a siege that lasted 13 days. The Texas force of about 180, led by Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett, all died. “Remember the Alamo!” became the rallying cry that led to victory.


      The whole Bible is about Jesus. The Exodus out of Egypt signified the salvation provided by Jesus. Egypt represented slavery to sin (12:1-12-13-17-23-27-29-30-33-35-36-39-40-41-42-51). Passover depicted salvation or deliverance from sin (Acts 7:38; 1 Cor. 10:11). The Lord instructed Moses to memorialize that deliverance with a Passover meal. “Remember the Blood” ought to be the rallying cry for the people of God.


      Israel held the Passover on the 14th day of the first month, Abib (April), to commemorate the night the death angel passed through (12:12-23) the camp (12:11-21-27-43-48; Lev. 23:5; Num. 9:5; Dt. 16:1). The Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the 15th day of that month (Ex. 12:15; Lev. 23:6).


Heb. 11:28 [GW]. Faith led Moses to establish the Passover and spread the blood on the doorposts so that the destroying angel would not kill the firstborn sons.


      Those who cry out “Lord, remember me” (Lk. 23:42), ought to remember the price of salvation.


  I. Redemption

 

•          Plague (12:13-23-29)

•          Pharaoh (12:30)


      A. Blood (12:7-13-22-23; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:14, 22) of the Lamb (Jesus; 12:3-4-5; Gen. 22:7-8; Is. 53:7; Jn. 1:29; Rev. 5:6, 13:8)


          1. Season (12:1-2; Mt. 26:18)


          2. Selection (12:3; Rev. 13:8)


      The Lord instructed each house to select a lamb on the 10th day “that the sight of the lamb might furnish an occasion for conversation respecting their deliverance from Egypt,. . . and the mercy of God, who had so graciously looked upon them.” Endnote


      Spurgeon noted, “About four days before his crucifixion Jesus Christ rode in triumph through the streets of Jerusalem. He was thus openly set apart as being distinct from mankind. He, on the ass, rode up to the temple, that all might see him to be Judah’s Lamb, chosen of God, and ordained from the foundation of the world. . . .” Endnote


          3. Souls (12:4; Acts 16:31)


      The Passover depicted a household salvation–“a lamb for a house” (12:3-4-7-13-15-19-20-22-23-27-29-30-46).


          4. Spotless (12:5; Lev. 1:3, 22:20; Mal. 1:7; Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 1:19)


      Charles H. Spurgeon said, “Unblemished, born of the pure virgin Mary, begotten of the Holy Ghost, without a taint of sin; his soul was pure, and spotless as the driven snow, white, clear, perfect; and his life was the same. In him was no sin. He took our infirmities and bore our sorrows on the cross. He was in all points tempted as we are, but there was that sweet exception, ‘yet without sin.’” Spurgeon stated, “Then it was in its prime, then its strength was unexhausted, then its power was just ripened into maturity and perfection, God would not have an untimely fruit.” Endnote


          5. Slain (12:6-21; Rev. 5:6)


      Isaac Watts wrote,

Not all the blood of beasts,

On Jewish altars slain,

Could give the guilty conscience peace,

Or wash away the stain,

But Christ, the heavenly Lamb,

Takes all our sins away–

A sacrifice of noble name,

And richer blood than they.


          6. Sprinkled (12:7; Heb. 9:21, 10:22, 11:28; 1 Pet. 1:2; hyssop–bushy stalks, small spear-shaped leaves–Ex. 12:22; Lev. 14:6-7; Ps. 51:7)


Jn. 19:29 [HCSB]. A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth.


          7. Sustenance (12:8-11; Jn. 6:53; fire–12:8-9-10)


      Spurgeon said, “It is the blood sprinkled that saves a sinner. But when the Christian gets the blood sprinkled, that is not all he wants. He wants something to feed upon; and, O sweet thought! Jesus Christ is not only a Savior for sinners, but he is food for them after they are saved.” Endnote


      Alexander Maclaren wrote, “That which had become their safety now became their food.” Endnote


      Spurgeon noted, “Crucifixion has in it the shedding of blood-the hands and feet were pierced. It has in it the idea of roasting, for roasting signifies a long torment; and as the lamb was for a long time before the fire, so Christ, in crucifixion, was for a long time exposed to a broiling sun, and all the other pains which crucifixion engenders. Moreover not a bone was broken; which could not have been the case with any other punishment.” Endnote


          8. Severity (12:12; Jn. 12:31-32)


              a. Smite (12:12-13-29)


              b. Strike (12:23-27)


Ps. 105:36 [ESV]. He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.


Ps. 135:8 [CEV]. The LORD killed the first-born of people and animals in the land of Egypt.


      B. Bread not leavened (journey; 12:8-15-17-18-20-39; not sweet, or parched, but pure loaves, not fermented with leaven. . . a natural symbol of moral corruption Endnote )


          1. Bitterness (12:8-11; girded–Lk. 12:35; Eph. 6:15; 1 Pet. 1:13; lettuce and endive, herbs of bitter flavor; not intended as a savory accompaniment)


          2. Brethren (congregation–12:3-6-19-47)


      Who could eat the supper (12:7-8-9-11-15-16-18-19-20-43-44-45-46-48)?


              a. Blood-washed


      In future Passover memorials, the father of the house would search the household for impure leaven. Edersheim explained, “ The search itself was to be accomplished in perfect silence and with a lighted candle. To this search the apostle may have referred in the admonition to ‘purge out the old leaven’ ( 1 Cor. 5:7). Jewish tradition sees a reference to this search with candles in Zeph. 1:12. . . .” Endnote


              b. Born-again


      A mixed multitude (Num. 11:4) who did not know the Lord also came out of Egypt with the congregation of Israel. They had not come under the blood.


      Those outside the household of Israel could be bought and born again. Servants (12:44), strangers (12:19-48–49), and sojourners (12:48-49) could become just like those born (12:19-48-49) under the covenant.


      Mincaye, the Auca Indian who killed Steve Saint’s father in 1956, said his heart "was dark" until he learned about Jesus. "Waengongi (the Creator) used his son's blood like soap. He cleaned it and I saw a new trail." Now a Christian, Mincaye explained, “Waengongi [God] has a Son. He wants us to be reconciled to Him, and He sent His Son, dripping His very strong blood to mark God’s trail, so that we could walk that better trail.”


      A. W. Tozer, in a message titled The Precious Blood, Our Only Hope, told of two men caught on a trail in a “norwester.” Having futilely tried to start a fire to save their lives that night, one of the men found a third of a match stick with a small match-head. Knowing that the tiny match held the key to their life, Bill said to the other, “Do you know how precious this match is.” Only that match could save them. To those delivered from sin, the blood of Jesus is precious.


 II. Remembrance (memorial–12:14, 13:9)

 

•          Ordinance (12:14-17-43, 13:10)

•          Observe (12:17-24–25)

•          Obedience (do–12:28-35-47-48-50; command–12:28-50)


      The Lord intended for Israel to rehearse the meaning of this service (12:25-26, 13:14).


      Spurgeon wrote, “The text implies the possibility of forgetfulness concerning him whom gratitude and affection should constrain them to remember. There could be no need for this loving exhortation, if there were not a fearful supposition that our memories might prove treacherous, and our remembrance superficial in its character, or changing in its nature.” Spurgeon said, “It appears almost impossible that those who have been redeemed by the blood of the dying Lamb should ever forget their Ransomer; that those who have been loved with an everlasting love by the eternal Son of God, should ever forget that Son; but if startling to the ear, it is alas, too apparent to the eye to allow us to deny the fact.” Endnote


      A. Brought out by the Lord (brought–12:17-22-31-39-41-42-51, 13:3; go–12:28-31-32; delivered–12:27)


      Spurgeon pictured the joy of deliverance that night in the houses of Israel. A father says, “I am not to be a slave any longer.’ His eldest son, perhaps, has been smarting under the lash, and he says, ‘Son, you have had the task-master’s lash upon you this afternoon; but it is the last time you shall feel it.’ He looks at them all, with tears in his eyes-‘This is the night the Lord God will deliver you.’” Endnote


      B. Brought into the land


      God gave victory over the enemy through the blood (Rev. 12:11). Those who live in the experience of Pentecost will celebrate the victory of Calvary (Acts 2:42-46).


Jos. 5:9-10 [HCSB]. The LORD then said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from you." Therefore, that place has been called Gilgal to this day.

 10. While the Israelites camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month.


          1. Service (12:31; worship–12:27)


          2. Spoils (12:36; army–12:17-41-51)


Ps. 105:37-38 [HCSB]. Then He brought Israel out with silver and gold, and no one among His tribes stumbled. Egypt was glad when they left, for dread of Israel had fallen on them.