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Monday, July 18, 2016
Exodus 12:13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
THE BLOOD OF A LAMB SAVES US
This verse is drawn from the story of the first passover celebration. It happened when the Israelites were languishing under the brutal taskmaster, Pharaoh king of Egypt. Pharaoh had stubbornly refused to set the Israelites free from their slavery, as God directed him to do. So God sent ten terrible plagues on the land of Egypt. The last of the ten was that God planned to strike down all the firstborn of Egypt. Before doing so God told the Israelites to slaughter a one year old male lamb, in the prime of its life and having no defects, breaking none of its bones, and to brush its blood on the doorposts of their homes. When God came that night to strike the firstborn of Egypt He would then pass over each home where He saw the painted lamb-blood so no one inside was harmed.
The passover lamb is a beautiful picture of Jesus and His blessed work for us sinners. He, the holy Lamb, entered our world and lived a blemish-free life for us. He volunteered to be struck down in the prime of His life for us. While on the cross none of His bones were broken by the soldiers. By the blood that flowed from His holy wounds He atoned for our many sin-defects. We can rejoice and say: In Christ I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in according with the riches of God's grace. The specter of eternal death can't touch or harm us ever. God has passed over our sins for Jesus' sake.
God's own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ!
He, because I could not pay it Gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth's treasures many? I have one worth more than any
That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity!
(Worship Supplement 2000, 751:1)
