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THE PASSOVER BLOOD

by Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.

A sermon preached on Lord’s Day Morning, November 26, 2006
at the Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).


I have just been re-reading a good book by a British author named Brian H. Edwards. It is titled, Revival! A People Saturated with God (Evangelical Press, 1991). Mr. Edwards has a chapter in the book titled “A Revival of Christ-centered Preaching,” and in that chapter he said,

This emphasis on the blood of Christ as the way of salvation has never been popular. Recently a university chaplain referred to it as ‘this repulsive theory,’ and one modern Bible paraphrase tried to avoid references to the blood of Christ whenever possible, by substituting the word ‘death’ (ibid., page 107).

But, said Mr. Edwards,

In revival, Christ, and the blood of the cross particularly, is central to the preaching…Whenever we hear or read that the Spirit is at work we can assess the genuineness of the work by how central the blood of Christ is to the preaching and the worship…In the eighteenth century Whitefield and Wesley found that the preaching of the cross was hated, just as it is hated now. But thousands found in the blood of Christ justification, redemption, propitiation, peace, reconciliation and cleansing, whether or not they understood all those terms. Joseph Kemp returned from a visit to Wales in 1905 and reported to his congregation…in Edinburgh that the dominating note of the Welsh revival was ‘redemption through the blood’ (ibid., p. 108).

And so it must be in our day. If we expect to see real revival, the conversion of many lost souls, we must once again return to that glorious old theme of the Holy Scriptures,

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

On the night before the Hebrew people left Egyptian slavery to go into the promised land, God told them, in each household, to take a lamb without blemish and kill it. And then God said,

“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).

“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; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 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, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:12-13).

To this very day, near the beginning of April, the Jewish people remember that night, which is known as the great feast of Passover. The word “passover” comes from our text,

When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).

What a marvelous text that is, so full of meaning in the heart of every true Christian!

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

This morning let us think about that verse. Let its message sink down deeply in our hearts and minds.

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

What does it mean to us today?

I. First, that blood was a type of the Blood of Christ.

Webster’s Dictionary tells us that a type is “a thing, or event that represents or symbolizes another, especially another that is to come, a symbol, an emblem.” If there was ever a clear type or symbol of the Blood of Jesus Christ it is this. Throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, with all of its various prefigurings and symbols of the future Blood of Christ, none is clearer than this,

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

It was no accident that Jesus died during the feast of Passover. The night before He was crucified the Disciples said to Jesus,

“Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples” (Matthew 26:17-18).

The Disciples did what Jesus told them. They went to that house and prepared the Passover meal. And as the evening came, Christ sat down to eat the Passover meal with His twelve Disciples.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28).

Thus, in the Lord’s Supper, by the bread and the cup, Jesus gave the meaning, the fulfillment of that type in the book of Exodus,

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

Notice what seems obvious, what seems self evident, but yet is often obscured today. Note that the bread and the cup were two different things! Things that are different are not the same. The bread pictures His Body, broken on the Cross to atone for our sins. The cup was taken separately, when He said,

“Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins”
      (Matthew 26:27-28).

The Apostle John made the meaning very clear when he said,

“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”
      (I John 1:7).

That is the antitype. That is the fulfillment of the type, the meaning of the symbol,

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

It speaks of

“Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling” (Hebrews 12:24).

“For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us”
      (I Corinthians 5:7).

The blood of the lamb in Exodus 12 was a perfect picture of Christ,

“The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

That blood, which the Hebrew people put on their doorposts in Egypt, was a picture of

“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son [which] cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

II. Second, that blood had to be applied.

The Scofield Study Bible’s note on Exodus 12:11 says, “The blood must be applied (Ex. 12:7). This answers to appropriation by personal faith, and refutes universalism (John 3:36).” That note in the Scofield Study Bible is exactly right. As the Hebrew people had to have the blood on the door posts of their houses, so you must have the Blood of Christ to cleanse you from sin. If you do not have the Blood of Christ God will not pass over you. The plague of God’s judgment, His wrath and fury against sin, will fall on you.

God said,

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

But if God does not see the Blood, He will not pass over you!

“He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing…?”
      (Hebrews 10:28-29).

He who does not have the Blood of Christ cleansing His sins will fall under the terrible judgment of God, and

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

So, my question to you is this – do you have the Blood of Christ? God said,

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

Do you have the Blood of Christ? Remember that Scofield note, “The blood must be applied (Ex. 12:7). This answers to appropriation by personal faith, and refutes universalism (John 3:36).” Universalism teaches that everyone, universally, will be saved. But the Bible says,

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

Your sins are blotted out and washed away the instant you believe on the Son of God. Joseph Hart, the Puritan hymn writer, described the Bloody sweat of Christ our Passover.

His body, bathed in sweat and blood,
Showered on the ground a purple flood;
The rich effusion copious ran
To [wash away the sin of] man.
   (“The High Priest” by Joseph Hart, 1712-1768).

The single boon I would entreat
   Is to be led by Thee
To gaze upon Thy bloody sweat
   In sad Gethsemane.

To see Thee bowed beneath my guilt;
   Intolerable load!
To see Thy blood for sinners spilt,
   My groaning, gasping God!
(“The Wish” by Joseph Hart, 1712-1768).

Jesus stands before us in Gethsemane, dressed in a garment soaked through with His own Blood and sweat. They have not yet arrested Him, nor whipped Him, nor crucified Him. Where does the Blood come from that drips from the pores of His skin? It comes from the pressure of your sin, crushing Him to the ground under the weight of God’s wrath. In a few moments the soldiers arrive and drag His bleeding Body from the Garden. They beat Him in the face, and yank out swatches of His beard. They strip Him naked and beat His back to shreds. They press a crown of thorns down on His head. They nail His hands and feet to a Cross. He hangs in agony and Blood. And from the darkness of Egypt God cries out,

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

Will you come and stand beneath His Cross by faith? Will you come to the Blood-soaked Saviour this morning? Will you be cleansed from all the pollution of your sin by the Blood

“of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world?” (Revelation 13:8).

Let us stand and sing the last hymn on your song sheet.

Much we talk of Jesus’ blood,
But, how little’s understood!
Of His sufferings, so intense,
Angels have no perfect sense.

Who can rightly comprehend
Their beginning or their end?
‘Tis to God and God alone
That their weight is fully known.

See the suffering Son of God,
Panting, groaning, sweating blood!
Boundless depths of love divine!
Jesus, what a love was Thine!

Though the wonders Thou hast done,
Are as yet so little known,
Here we [stop] and comfort take,
Jesus died for sinners’ sake.
   (“Thine Unknown Sufferings” by Joseph Hart, 1712-1768,
       to the tune of  “‘Tis Midnight, and on Olive’s Brow”
       by William B. Tappan, 1774-1849).

If you would like to speak with our deacon Dr. Cagan and myself about your need for Christ’s Blood to cleanse your sins, please stop at the little foyer leading into the Fellowship Hall, as we go upstairs to have a meal together.  May God bless this Gospel sermon, and by it may you come to the loving Saviour, Jesus, and be washed clean from all your sins, and be saved for all time and eternity by Christ Jesus, and the Blood He spilled to save your soul.  Amen.

(END OF SERMON)
You can read Dr. Hymers' sermons each week on the Internet
at www.realconversion.com. Click on "Sermon Manuscripts."


Scripture Read Before the Sermon by Dr. Kreighton L. Chan: Exodus 12:21-28.
Solo Sung Before the Sermon by Mr. Benjamin Kincaid Griffith:
“A Crown of Thorns” (by Ira F. Stanphill, 1914-1993).


THE OUTLINE OF

THE PASSOVER BLOOD

by Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.


“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

(Exodus 12:7)

I.   First, that blood was a type of Christ, Matthew 26:17-18;
Matthew 26:26-28; I John 1:7; Hebrews 12:24;
I Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29.

II.  Second, that blood had to be applied, Hebrews 10:28-29, 31;
John 3:36; Revelation 13:8.