In the twelfth chapter of Exodus, we read the intricate details surrounding the last plague upon Egypt, the death of all the firstborn in the land. Part of what happened that night would involve an act of obedience through faith, to the command given to Moses by God.
Innocent Blood had to be shed to guarantee the life of God’s people. No ceremony or pious works would be enough to stay off death.

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.  Exodus 12:5–7

As the LORD passed through the land that dark night, only those households that had applied the blood of the “lamb without blemish”, were spared the pangs of death. 

“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 12:13

 

“For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.” Exodus 12:23

 This very first Passover was in anticipation of the promise of redemption out of slavery and bondage. 

The Nation of Israel was commanded to keep this celebration of Passover in remembrance of their redemption. So every Passover celebrated after this first one was in remembrance of what God had done.  

“You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.  And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service.  And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’  you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord‘s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.”
Exodus 12:24–27

 It was a Good Day for the Nation of Israel. 

However, there was another, even more important “Passover” to come, not just for the Nation of Israel, but for all nations. A Passover that was also highly anticipated.

This expected “Passover” would also involve obedience and a blood sacrifice. Isaiah 52:13–53, describes this predicted event, which we call the 4^th Servant Song.  

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray;  we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  Isaiah 53:5–6

 As believers, we know that this “Passover”, the death of Christ was fulfilled. On that day the brutal unsympathetic death, by the hands of sinful men of the sinless son of God, allowed the wrath of God to Passover us! 

That was surely a good day for mankind! 

The account of the crucifixion of Christ is found in all four Gospels: Matthew 27:26-66, Mark 15:15-47, Luke 23:24-56, John 19:16-42. 

The Apostle Paul referenced the result of that day in II Corinthians 5:21 

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

 Tomorrow, April 2^nd, many Christians will celebrate Good Friday. Believers refer to this day as good, even though it is a day when innocence was brutally slaughtered. We celebrate this day in remembrance of the day when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the perfect spotless lamb, was sacrificed in our place, for our sin. The Bible ensures us that three days later Christ rose from the dead, and only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection, is there redemption and an escape from the bondage of sin and death. 

The anticipation of waiting is over. Our redemption has been accomplished! 

Good Friday and Easter Sunday are good days to remember the good thing that a good God has given through His son Jesus… Salvation.