During a cruel and bloody war, a commander took an oath in the presence of his troops that he would slaughter the entire population of a certain town. In due course the bloodhounds of war were let loose on the defenseless people.
Now it so happened that a fugitive, spied a number of soldiers as they broke into a house, the inmates of which they put to the sword. On leaving it, one of them, dipped a cloth into a pool of blood and splashed it on the door, as a sign to any who might follow of what had taken place inside.
Quick as his feet could carry him, the poor fugitive sped away to a large house in the center of the town, where a number of his friends were concealed, and breathlessly told them what he had seen. At once it flashed upon them what to do. A goat was in the yard. Immediately it was killed, and its blood splashed on the door. Scarcely had they closed the door when a band of soldiers rushed into their street. But when they came to the blood-marked door they made no attempt to enter! The sword — so they thought — had already entered therein and performed its work. Thus, whilst the many around were slain, all within the blood-marked door were saved.
This reminds us of those soul-saving words of God,
Yes, “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). His shed blood has stayed the sword of divine judgment for everyone who, by faith, takes shelter under that blood.