Police Devotion 4-10-2020
“…and when I see the blood, I will pass over you,” (Exodus 12:13)
The Passover started when Israel was held captive in Egypt. God instructed Israel specifically about the Passover sacrifice: “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year:” (Exodus 12:5) He also told Moses, “And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.” (Exodus 12:7)
God warned that He would judge Egypt for their wickedness: “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast;” (Exodus 12:12) Yet God also promised those who would obey Him about the sacrifice, “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you,” (Exodus 12:13)
This plague was not just a judgment on Egypt but also a prophecy of Jesus’ death on the cross. Like the Passover lamb, Jesus had no blemish of sin: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” (1 Peter 2:22) Jesus’ death was also bloody like the lamb’s: “…he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,” (Isaiah 53:7) Also, when a man swung bloody hyssop upward to strike the upper doorpost of his house, then left and right to strike the two side posts, his motions formed the shape of a bloody cross.
The Passover lamb was Israel’s key to deliverance from death. Jesus is also our key to deliverance from eternal death. We have all sinned and earned sin’s penalty of death and hell: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) “For the wages of sin is death;” “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.” (Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:14)
Yet Jesus went to the cross for us. His death paid our sin-debt in full: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD [God the Father] hath laid on him [God the Son, Jesus] the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
Here’s why Easter is so important. Jesus had said He’d die for sins and rise again: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) If He rose, it would prove He’s God the Son and the Saviour of the world. If He didn’t, it would prove His death meant nothing. Everything stands or falls on the resurrection. Well, Jesus came out of the tomb! “…he is risen, as he said.” (Matthew 28:6) Easter celebrates the fact that Jesus died, was buried AND ROSE AGAIN!
When a Jewish family followed God’s instructions before Plague #10, they were saying, “Lord, we believe your Word, that there will be a judgment of death tonight and we can only be spared by doing as you’ve commanded. We’ll obey you and trust you to spare us as you promised.”
Likewise, when a sinner comes to the Lord Jesus to be saved, he is saying in so many words, “Lord, I believe your Word that there is a judgment of death and hell, and I deserve that judgment. I also accept the fact that your death paid my sin-debt in full, and you were buried and rose from the dead. Now I come to you in repentance for the forgiveness of sins. I’m receiving you now into my heart and life as my personal God and Saviour. I’m trusting you entirely to give me eternal life as you promised.”
God kept His promise to spare the obedient Israelites. He’ll also keep His Word to forgive sins and give eternal life to anyone who will come to Jesus in repentance and faith to be saved. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” (Romans 10:13-14) Have you come to Jesus like that? If you have, that’s the joy of Easter!
Brian Miller 4/10/2020
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822