The defining miracle in the Old Testament was the ten plagues on Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea under Moses. The defining miracle in the New Testament is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both miracles purchased for God a people – a peculiar, special, people. Both purchases came at the price of blood.

Let’s compare the tenth plague with the price Jesus paid for us on the cross.

THE TENTH PLAGUE

The blood of the Passover lamb:

1. Separated the Israelites from the Egyptians.
2. Involved acts of obedience – it was the grace of God plus the obedience of man.
3. It was to be remembered annually.
4. It created a special relationship between the Israelites and God through His mediator, Moses.

THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS

Out of the 425 times “blood” is mentioned in the Bible, 99 times are in the New Testament. The first explicit mention of the blood of Jesus is when He instituted the Lord’s Supper and He said that the fruit of the vine is the “blood of His covenant” (Matthew 26:28). The power in the blood of Jesus is that it was “innocent blood” (Matt. 27:4).

Luke mentions that in His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the blood of Jesus was “falling down to the ground” (22:44). John mentions that in the act of crucifixion itself, when He was pierced, “there came out blood and water” (19:34).

The apostle Paul mentions the relationship between the blood of Christ and mankind in Acts 20:28. Paul says that Jesus serves in the same way as the Passover lamb did for the Israelites. He bought us for God from our sins. But it also says that only a certain group is eligible for that blessing – the church of God.

The question now becomes – How do we contact the blood? There are two ways to answer that question but the end result is the same.

First, as we have pointed out, it is the church that is purchased with the blood of Christ – Acts 20:28. So how do we enter the church? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:13 that we are baptized into the church. (See also John 3:3, 5)

Secondly, without a doubt it is the blood of Christ that cleanses us from sin. But what do we do to be cleansed? Again, we learn in Acts 22:16 that baptism is that point when we are washed – clearly by the blood of Christ. (See also Hebrews 10:22 and Ephesians 5:26).

Just like with the Passover lamb, the blood of Jesus Christ:

1. Separates the saved from the condemned.
2. Involves acts of obedience – it was the grace of God plus the obedience of man.
3. It ought to be remembered at least as often as we observe the Lord’s Supper.
4. It creates a special relationship between the church and God through our mediator, Jesus Christ.

Take home message: Jesus gave His life for you; you belong to Him.

–Paul Holland