“The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you…” (Exodus 12:13).
Every day, across the globe, lives are saved in some way or another. They’re extricated from crumpled cars, plucked from raging waters, carried from burning buildings. They’re pulled back from the path of vehicles, given CPR by strangers or restored to health by medical professionals.
In Egypt, God told the Israelites about the final plague He would bring on the entire land. The firstborn of every household, Jewish or Egyptian, human or animal, was going to die. But God provided the way for the Israelites to escape the coming death. They had to take the blood of a sacrificed lamb and paint it on the doorframes of their houses. When the Angel of Death came through the land and saw the blood, He would pass over those homes. The blood was their covering, their protection and salvation.
Passover contains an illustration of the Messiah, who came to save us from spiritual death. He died to pay the penalty of sin on our behalf. That penalty is death, spiritual and eternal. Jesus is our Passover Lamb, and His shed blood covers and saves us.
There are countless ways to save an earthly life, but only Jesus can save our eternal lives.
“Amen, amen I tell you, whoever hears My word and trusts the One who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed over from death into life” (John 5:24).
Scriptures
Exodus 12:7, 12–13, Isaiah 53:6, Romans 6:23, and 1 Corinthians 5:7, Romans 3:25, Ephesians 1:7, Romans 5:9
Reflection Questions
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Have you ever been saved from physical death? How did you feel toward the person or people who saved you?
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Think about your spiritual salvation. Remember back to how God drew you to Him and when you placed your faith in Him. Think for a moment about what He saved you from – spiritual death and eternal separation from Him. Thank Him for Jesus’ blood that covers your sin and saves you from this death.
