Two Lambs, Two Instances of Shed Blood, Two Life Saving Results

Once again we come to the holiest week of the year for Christians and Jews. We will celebrate Easter, and the Jews will celebrate Passover. Both celebrations involve the blood of the lamb.

First there comes Passover. This is the day the Angel of Death passed over the homes of the Israelites, who were slaves in Egypt at the time. The Angel of Death was the final plague, used by God, to move the Pharaoh to release the Israelite slaves. In this final plague, the first-born of each family died as the Angel of Death moved through their homes. Great mourning sounds filled the night air as family after family discovered their loved one dead.

Why did the Angel of Death pass over the homes of the Israelites? God had instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to kill a lamb and paint its blood over the door posts of their home. This was a sign to the Angel to pass over the home. The Israelite slaves finally were given approval to leave, and they left quickly before Pharaoh would change his mind. To this day, the Jews celebrate the special night and events of the exodus from Egypt many thousands of years ago.

In around 30AD Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples. What they did not know at the time, was that the very next day, he would become a Passover lamb for them and all people. He would be crucified on a cross, and his blood was shed just hours after he sat at the table with them and spoke these words.

As they were eating, He took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them, and so they all drank from it.  He said to them, “This is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many.  I assure you: I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in the kingdom of God.” (Matt 14:22-25 HCSB)

Jesus, the Lamb of God, let his body be broken and his blood shed, for you and for me. Let that sink in. He did this for us long before we were ever born. Even then, He knew we would be, and that we would need a savior. There is no sinless man, woman, or child and there never has been, except for Jesus. He was the spotless Lamb whose blood keeps the death from having the final victory over us. We will live beyond death, thanks to the blood of the Lamb.

My first husband passed away on Good Friday several years ago. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to have Easter just two days away. You see it is Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, which is the promise that we can see our loved ones again.

Take the next few days to think about this.

Heaven, a place where there is no death, no illness, no tears, but instead life eternal full of laughter while in eternally healthy bodies.

Heaven, a place where there is no anger, no fear, no jealousy, no pride, no greed, no abuse, but instead joy, peace, love, contentment, purpose, and value.

Heaven, a place where there is no darkness, but instead light and beauty.

All this because it is God’s kingdom and God cannot look upon sin.

Ok, so how do we, people of sin, find ourselves in a sinless heaven? JESUS

He paid our price for our sins, so that when we die we are washed clean and given new life eternally.

Two lambs, but only one was Holy. Two times of death, but only one was defeated.

Jesus, the Lamb of God, came. Jesus, the Lamb of God, lived with us. Yet Jesus, the Lamb of God, gave up his divinity and died a cruel, bloody death. But death could not hold the Lamb of God. He rose again. For the next 40 days over 500 people were witnesses of his resurrection. Then he ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us.

He prepares a place for you. Are you going there one day? I know I am because the Lamb of God made a way for me, and I have accepted the offered grace.

I hope you know with certainty that you are too.

Blessings,

M.