Exodus 12:11-13

Exodus 12:11-13, “And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover. 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.”

Of all the 10 Plagues which God had inflicted upon Egyptians, this was the one that broke the camel's back, the one that became the last straw for Pharaoh before he would let God's people go. The Lord said “when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” This phrase speaks regarding the Tenth Plague upon Egypt, which was that the firstborn of all human and animal life in the land would die during that Passover night.

Carefully notice that the Lord (the Death Angel) wasn't looking to see who is worthy in the houses, He was looking for the blood. Only Jesus (the Lamb of God) is worthy! Revelation 5:9-10, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Only the sinless only begotten (biological) Son of God is worthy!

It wasn't enough for the lamb to be killed and its carcase left in the backyard. The lamb's blood had to be applied, painted upon the door and lintel (upper door late) of each home. If the Lord didn't see the blood, the firstborn of all animals and humans died. Guaranteed!!! But if the Lord saw the blood (which symbolized faith in the coming future Messiah), then the Lord passed over that home (hence, the “Passover”).

We learn in Hebrews 10:1, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” The Old Testament tabernacle, inner and outer courts, holy place, holy of holies, slain lamb and work of the high priest—were all a SHADOW of things to come in Heaven. If you see your shadow, it is only because you are not directly underneath a light source, so you cast a shadow. But when you move closer to the light source, your shadow vanishes once you are directly under the light source. Likewise, when Jesus was still afar off in the Old Testament, the shadows of the Messiah and His redemptive work were cast; but once Christ came and completed His work of redemption, those shadows (ceremonial laws) were no longer needed and so they disappeared, nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14-16).

Just as the Old Testament high priest was required by God to enter into the holy of holies once each year with the blood of a slain male lamb without spot nor blemish (which pictured our sinless and perfect Savior); so also was Jesus Himself required to enter into the Holy Place in Heaven with His blood (Hebrews 9:12), and to appear in the presence of God the Father on our behalf (Hebrews 9:22-24), and to sprinkle His literal liquid blood upon the heavenly Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 12:24). The blood had to be applied to the heavenly Mercy Seat, to appease (propitiate) the wrath of God against all sinners. 1st John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Christ died for ALL humanity. Amen and amen!

Exodus 12:13 is one of the most important verses in the Bible, but I am astounded that I haven't found even one theologian who provides commentary on this passage of Scripture. That is a shame! The blood of Jesus is critically important—without which we would all be condemned to burn in the fires and torments of Hell forever (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). 1st Thessalonians 1:10, “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”