A distinguishing mark

“The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. . .” Exodus 12:13 CSB

In Exodus 12, the Lord gives His people instructions in order to avoid the tenth and final plague that befell the Egyptians before the Israelites’ Exodus. Passover is both a solemn and celebratory occasion. It points back to the bondage of the people of Israel and forward to their deliverance by a coming Messiah. The focal point of Passover is an unblemished animal from the flock.

In taking this yearling lamb, the obedient Israelite family was to paint the blood over three pieces of wood: the lintel and the doorposts. In seeing the blood, a distinguishing mark, death would not come to the household because of the death of the lamb. This points forward through Scripture to Isaiah 53 to a “Suffering Servant” who was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and on whom was the chastisement that brought us peace. It points even further to the banks of the River Jordan where John the Baptist stood pointing to Jesus and saying, “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the Sins of the World!” (John 1:29)

In case we missed it, the Gospel writer John ensures we see that Jesus was offered a drink on a hyssop branch (Ex. 12:22/Jn. 19:29). May we proclaim with the poetic hymn writer William Cowper, “Dear dying Lamb thy precious blood will never lose its power, till all the ransomed church of God be saved to sin no more!”

Prayer

“Father, thank you that if we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness by the blood of the spotless Lamb, Jesus. May His lifeblood be a distinguishing mark upon me this day. Amen.”