During a meeting of Jewish brethren in San Francisco, a venerable old Jew said; "This is Passover week. You will have put away all leaven from your houses; you will eat the `motsah' (unleavened wafers) and the roasted lamb. You will attend the synagogue services, and carry out the ritual and directions of the Talmud. But you forget, my brethren, that you have everything but that which Jehovah required first of all. He did not say:
"When I see the leaven put away, or when I see you eat the motsah, or the lamb, or go to the synagogue.' His word was:
" 'When I see the blood I will pass over you.' Ah, my brethren, you can substitute nothing for this. You must have blood, blood, BLOOD!
"I was born in Palestine, nearly seventy years ago. I was taught to read the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets. I early attended the synagogue and learned Hebrew from the rabbis.
"Again and again I read Exodus 12 and Leviticus 16 and 17. Day and night one verse would ring in my ears:
“‘It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.' I knew I needed atonement. I beat my breast as I confessed my need of it. But atonement was to be made by blood, and there was no blood.
"In my distress at last I opened my heart to a learned and venerable rabbi. I tried to be satisfied when he told me we must turn to the Talmud, rest on its instruction and trust in the mercy of God and the merits of the fathers. I tried to be satisfied but could not.
"I was over thirty years of age when I left Palestine and came to Constantinople. I had one great question: Where can I find the blood of atonement?
"One night I was walking down one of the narrow streets when I saw a sign telling of a meeting for Jews. Curiosity led me to open the door and go in. Just as I took a seat I heard a man say: "`The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.'
"It was my first introduction to Christianity. I listened breathlessly as the speaker told how God had declared that 'Without the shedding of blood is no remission' but that He had given His only begotten Son, the Lamb of God, to die, and all who trusted in His blood were forgiven all their iniquities.
"I had found the blood of atonement at last. I trusted it, and now I love to read the New Testament and see how all the shadows of the law are fulfilled in. Jesus."
Precious, precious blood of Jesus,
Shed on Calvary;
Shed for rebels, and for sinners,
Shed for me.
Precious blood that has redeemed us,
All the price is paid;
Perfect pardon now is offered,
Peace is made.