The Bible in Art: The Passover   

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Verses for Consideration: Exodus 12:12-13

12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

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The Lord was about to release his enslaved people from  Egypt. One final plague-the death of every firstborn human and animal-would so devastate their nation that the Egyptians would beg Israel to leave. To keep Israel safe from this plague, God used the blood of a Passover lamb.

Notice how detailed a portrait of Jesus the Passover Lamb is. The lamb had no defects, just like the Savior who was “a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19). It was slaughtered at twilight, about the time of Jesus’ death on the cross.

The lamb’s blood on the sides and tops of the doorways served as a sign to the angel of death that he should pass over those homes as he swept through Egypt that night. Jesus’ blood keeps eternal death from our door as well, since “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

By the next morning, Pharaoh and his people were begging the Israelites to leave. After 430 years, God’s people were free. The Lord had opened their prison doors.

Jesus has defeated our slave masters and has given us freedom that’s even better. “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34,36). “Our Savior, Christ Jesus . . . has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8).

Our Passover Lamb provides us with the same assurance God’s people had when they left Egypt. Since he’s freed us from slavery, he will lead us on to the promised land.

That’s why God’s people rejoice: “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood . . . to him be glory and power forever and ever!” (Revelation 1:5,6).

Prayer: We praise and thank you, O Lord, for you have set us free. Guard and protect us that we never again allow ourselves to be enslaved by sin through unbelief. Amen.

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Title: Death of the Pharaoh Firstborn son (1872)

Artist: Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema