The Blood for a Token

From: Gospel Light: Volume 9 (1919)

• 9 min. read • grade level: 5

"When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”

(Exodus 12:13¹³And 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. (Exodus 12:13)).

AFTER many judgments sent upon Egypt, which left Pharaoh and the Egyptians as hard as ever, God determined to execute judgment still further by slaying the first-born, or eldest child, in every family in Egypt.

On the night this was to happen, God appointed the Israelites to take a lamb, to kill it, and with its blood to sprinkle the posts of their doors, and the lintels over their doors: "And when," said He, "I see the blood, I will pass over you." That is, He would not destroy them, nor any in the house, where the blood was seen.

In 1 Cor. 5:7⁷Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7), it is written, "Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us.”

John said of Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29²⁹The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)).

Believers are said to be redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:19¹⁹But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19)).

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to save sinners, and gave His life a ransom for many. (1 Tim. 1:15¹⁵This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)).

No house in Egypt was free from judgment, but the house that had the blood for a token. An Egyptian's house might have been a lofty house, a beautiful house, a strong house; this made no difference: when God saw no blood on it, His judgment entered there.

How many think they shall escape coming judgment, because they are moral, or have done their best. But this can never keep away the wrath of God. Where He sees no blood, His judgment must come. God hath concluded all under sin; and "the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). All, all must perish, save those under the blood. God will look only at this, regard only this.

It is not, When I see you sober, or moral, I will pass over you. No; it is, “When I see the blood.”

Nothing under heaven can protect a sinner from coming wrath, but the shed blood of God's dear Son. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."(John 3:36³⁶He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36))." He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."(John 3:18¹⁸He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18))." Without the shedding of blood is no remission." (Neb. 9:22). Jesus has shed His blood for the remission of the sins of many.

Who are they that have this remission? God has told us, “Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43⁴³To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)). "Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things," (Acts 13:38, 39³⁸Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: ³⁹And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)).

All who are made sensible of being what God says they are, namely, altogether guilty and filthy before Him, and who receive Jesus Christ, God's great gift for poor sinners, have this forgiveness.

As it is written, “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)).

Israel was not saved from judgment because they were more righteous than the Egyptians. God speaks of nothing but this, "When I see the blood." God looked at that. Their trust for protection was in the blood of the Lamb they were feeding on.

So with a believer in Christ; it is not his own works which make him happy; but this: "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Eph. 1:7⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). That which gives him boldness in coming to God is the blood. "Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus." The believer enters by faith where Jesus is, worships in the courts of heaven, feels at home even in the presence of God, because He who "was wounded for our transgressions" is there for him. This makes him bold; not because he is anything, but because the great High Priest is everything; his righteousness being the righteousness of God, and his blood being the precious blood of Christ.

Many a child of God is in bondage from seeking, though he is not aware of it, to add something to the finished work of Jesus. Just as if this were not enough; and yet God, by raising up Jesus, and setting Him at His right hand, has shown Himself fully satisfied with the work of Jesus: and for the sake of Jesus, and the life He laid down on the cross, He now passes over every sinner who trusts only in Him.

Millions of sinners have been sheltered under that blood. God has set Him forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood. (Rom. 3:25²⁵Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)). All who are quickened by the Father, and drawn to Jesus as lost sinners, and made to trust only in the blood of Christ, are safe. God has given His word that they are safe; for "When I see the blood, "He says," I will pass over you." “He that believeth on Him is not condemned.” The condemnation fell on Jesus.

“He suffered in their stead;

He saved His people thus;

The curse that fell upon His head,

Was due by right to us.”

God looked not at the Israelite in the house to see if He could discern anything in him as a reason for passing him over. He looked only at the blood. That blood spoke of judgment passed, judgment already executed; and no second stroke was to fall.

It is true that those who receive forgiveness are called to holiness to bring forth fruit unto God. (Rom. 6:22²²But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22); 1 Peter 2:15, 16¹⁵For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: ¹⁶As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. (1 Peter 2:15‑16)).

We can only get peace by looking off to the peace made through the blood of His cross. (Col. 1:20²⁰And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)). The heart wants a perfect thing to give it rest, and that perfect thing is the offering of Jesus Christ once. (Heb. 10:10-14¹⁰By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ¹¹And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: ¹²But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; ¹³From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. ¹⁴For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:10‑14)).

As the eye of God is on the blood, so He would have us look at the same thing. The offering and sacrifice of Jesus was a sweet-smelling savor unto God. (Eph. 5:2²And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. (Ephesians 5:2)). Jesus came and offered Himself; the smell of that offering was sweet to God, and the Holy Ghost makes it sweet to us. He delights to spread out Jesus, in His love, compassion, and blood, before the believer as all his joy. As it is written, " He shall glorify me: He shall take of mine, and show it unto you." (John 16:15¹⁵All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:15)).

It is not opinions that are our boast, but the One living Person of the Lord Jesus. The Spirit produces His own fruit in each believer. (Gal. 5:22, 23²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22‑23)). Yet He does not speak of Himself, nor turn the believer's eye to that as a ground of confidence. He holds forth Christ Jesus the Lord; fixes the believer's heart on Him; so that if we rejoice, it is in Christ Jesus; if we are glad, it is in the Lord; if we have boldness and access with confidence, it is by the faith of Him. (Phil. 3:3³For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3); John 20:20²⁰And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. (John 20:20); Eph. 3:12¹²In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3:12)).

All is by Jesus. "Christ is all, and in all." "He is our peace." It is not the believer's own joy that is the ground of his rejoicing, but Jesus. It is not his joy yesterday that makes him glad to-day; but what made him glad yesterday makes him glad to-day, namely, Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. We are ever in danger, like the Galatians, of turning aside from Christ, to get something else to rest upon. But it can only bring us into bondage, and dishonor Him. "God forbid," said Paul (and it was a solemn word), "that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," save in Him who hung upon it, and offered one perfect sacrifice for sins.

The self-righteousness of our nature is ever ready to turn us away from the grace of Christ, to take us from the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once. The Holy Ghost leads to Him; testifies of Him; makes Him precious.

“He never moves a man to say,

‘Thank God, I’m made so good ';

But turns his eye another way,

To Jesus and His blood.”

Jesus “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him "; not some of them, but all that come unto God by Him. (Heb. 7:25²⁵Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)). Now, the unbelief of man's heart often says," If I had not sinned in this or that particular way, I might have hope "; or," If I had this or that qualification, then I might come.”

But all this is excluded. It is those who come unto God BY HIM; nothing but Him; who have nothing whatever to mention; who feel themselves helpless sinners, without one thing to rest on but Christ Jesus; who trust their souls on Him, believing that Christ is enough, and that what He has done shall stand for all who believe in Him; for when God looks at the blood, He passes over those who trust in the blood of the slain Lamb. (Heb. 10:17¹⁷And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)).

The truth as to pardon, peace, and acceptance must be received in faith before it can be enjoyed, or its power felt. The same moment that the sinner is brought to Jesus in faith, the whole need of the soul is met; fully, perfectly, and forever met. When this is believed, the soul has rest; not, observe, in its own feelings, but in the word of Christ believed. He never says to one who comes to Him, "I will forgive." No, blessed be His name I but, in plainest terms He says, "Son, daughter, thy sins are forgiven, thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." (Mark 2:5⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:5)).

The only question now is, Can the troubled one receive it as the truth of God? If so, the voice of Jesus has spoken peace to that soul. And if the ear be kept open only for Him, its peace will be as complete and settled as the word of Christ can make it. Did Jesus ever send away a seeking soul from His presence in a state of uncertainty? No! never! and He never will. His word is pledged. "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37³⁷All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).

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