GOD’S WRATH AND THE BLOOD
Ex. 12:3-13; 1 Cor. 5:7
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: “4 worms in Church"
1. A minister decided to add a visual demonstration about the evil habits of modern society.
2. Four worms were placed into four separate jars.
a. 1st - put into a container of alcohol.
b. 2nd - put into a container of cigarette smoke.
c. 3rd - put into a container of chocolate syrup.
d. 4th - put into a container of good clean soil.
2. At the conclusion of the sermon on evil habits, the Minister reported the following results:
a. 1st worm in alcohol . . . . . .. Dead.
b. 2nd worm in cigarette smoke . . Dead!
c. 3rd worm in chocolate syrup . . . Dead!.
d. 4th worm in good clean soil . .Alive!
3. So the Minister asked the congregation,
"So, my friends? What did you learn from this demonstration?"
4. Maxine, sitting in the back, quickly raised her hand and said, "As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!"
5. That pretty much ended the service!
B. TEXT
3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. 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. Ex. 12:3,5-8,11-13.
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” 1 Cor. 5:7B.
C. THESIS
1. It was a terrible time for the land of Egypt. God had risen up against the land with horrible plagues – which destroyed all of the land, the animals, and the waters of Egypt.
2. The Nile turned to blood, the frogs, the lice, the flies, Beasts died of disease, Boils, Hail, locusts, darkness.
3. Imagine yourself there that night. The tenth plague was more frightening than all the others: Jehovah Himself has loosed Death into the streets with sword unsheathed!
a. Death will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. No one will survive the night. Every house will have a dead person in it!
b. No bolted door or barred window can keep that Death out. “Tremble, all inhabitants of the land! You will all lose someone tonight!”
c. Wait! The voice of God’s Mercy spoke: “There is a reprieve, an exception: all who take refuge under the blood of God’s substitutionary sacrifice will be spared!”
I. HOW IMPORTANCE WAS THE BLOOD THAT NIGHT? The Most Important thing in the world!
A. WAS MADE AS CONSPICUOUS AS POSSIBLE
1. It became the distinguishing Mark. You could tell an Israelite from an Egyptian – NOT by clothing or by language, but by the Blood on the doorway.
2. There were no “secret believers” that day! What you believed was emblazoned in red on the front of your house.
3. You had to disregard your friend’s opinions, your social standing, your sophistication, your wealth.
3. Both rich and poor had to disfigure the fronts of their houses with grotesque swaths of blood.
4. There was NO COMPROMISE POSTION: Either you had the Blood on your house, or you didn’t! There wasn’t a nice, polite way to do it.
5. The Lord’s people couldn’t be ashamed of Jesus that day and live! They had to choose.
B. THE BLOOD WAS THE SAVING TOKEN
1. Every house in Egypt had a dead person in it.
2. Only the blood separated the living from the dead.
3. When the walls of Jericho fell, only one house (in the wall) was left standing – the one with the Scarlet Cord in the window!
C. THEY TRUSTED IN IT COMPLETELY
1. They put the Blood on the door, then they shut it and didn’t open it until morning.
2. For God commanded, “None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning” Ex. 12:22.
3. They were busy inside – roasting, preparing, and eating the Lamb. They prayed and sang hymns.
4. Outside, they could hear the shrieks and cries getting closer and closer. “Will death come to our house?” the children might ask.
5. The parents answered, “Don’t be afraid. The Blood will keep us safe!” They trusted in that blood!
D. ILLUS.: NECESSITY OF THE BLOOD
1. In the monograph, “The Last Memorable Days of France’s Liberation,” (about WW2), a soldier wrote home;
2. “We have seen many strange sights. We have met great crowds of Germans along the way to Berlin, jumping and shouting for joy at the thought of being taken prisoner!
3. Then one day I saw a staunch German S.S. officer brought into a hospital. He was one of their (brainwashed) fanatics, but was very badly wounded.
4. His condition required an immediate blood transfusion, so the doctors quickly told him he must receive blood.
5. He said, “Will it be British blood?” The Doctor said, “Yes, it will be good British blood. If you refuse it you will die!”
6. “Then,” answered the proud Nazi curtly, “I would rather die!” A short time later, his body was carried out for burial. If that man were alive today and could look back on that scene, he’d see what a fool he was.
7. In the same way, many today are blind to their need for God’s gift of the Blood of His Son. They ignorantly reject.
E. IT BROKE THE HOLD OF EGYPT
1. Until that night they put the blood on their doors, Pharaoh had steadfastly refused to let them go.
2. But this final judgment, sealed with the blood of the sacrifice, broke the hold of Egypt over God’s people. Then Pharaoh commanded them to leave.
F. HUMOR: OUR DEBT OF GRACE
1. Western on TV. Two groups of men in saloon having a gun fight across the saloon. The saloon doors burst open and in marches a little man, seemingly completely unafraid. He walks through the middle of the firing, which momentarily pauses, then takes his place at the bar.
2. A man sitting next to him looks at him with amazement; “Partner, it took real courage to walk thru the middle of that gun battle without looking to the right or left!”
3. “Not at all”, he replied, “I owe money to everyone in this place.”
4. How many of you know we owe a great debt today?
II. WHERE DID THE BLOOD GET ITS POWER?
A. DERIVED FROM THE SACRIFICE HIMSELF
1. The Blood that saves us is from GOD’S APPOINTED SUBSTITUTE for us. No other substitute would be accepted.
2. HE WAS SPOTLESS – WITHOUT SIN. If there had been any sin in the life of Jesus, He would not have been eligible to be our Substitute/ Savior.
3. Because CHRIST HIMSELF WAS GOD. His blood was the blood of God. No mere man could atone for us; only the
infinite, holy God could!
4. PROOF: HE SACRIFICE WAS ACCEPTED BY FATHER. Peter and Paul pointed out that Christ’s resurrection was proof-positive that His sacrifice for our sins had been received by the Father.
5. Since the Father was fully satisfied, no amount of sin on our part can outstrip the efficacy of the Sacrifice.
B. IT WAS UNIQUE, UNEQUALED
1. Nothing but the Blood can ever save the soul. If a foolish Israelite said, “I will sprinkle my doorposts with diamonds, gold & silver…” he would have perished. Only the Blood can save (Acts 4:12).
2. IT MUST SAVE ALONE!
a. You can’t add anything to it.
b. Good works, education, ordinances, human moral perfection, etc. – nothing else can save.
c. Paul told the Galatians, “If you allow yourself to be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing! You are fallen from grace.” Gal. 5:2,4.
C. IT AVERTS GOD’S GAZE FROM OUR SIN
1. “When I see the Blood, I will pass over you,”
2. “But I can’t see it. How do I know it will save me?” It doesn’t matter whether YOU see it or not; it’s God whose the One who sees it!
3. Think of the Holy Eye of God passing over the world in judgment.
a. When His eye falls upon the Blood, He no longer sees you or your sin, but He sees…
b. His precious Son, who takes away the sin of the world!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. There is an old legend that tells of a wealthy man who sought admittance into heaven. An angel asked him for the password. The elegantly attired gentleman answered, “I have contributed generously to the church. Everyone knows of my sterling character. I am respected everywhere. Surely you will have a place for me; I have earned it.”
2. But the angel answered, “Sorry, sir. That is not the password. You may not enter.”
3. Another man approached, distinguished looking and refined. He too was asked for the password. “I have served the Lord as a minister. I have stood before churches Sunday after Sunday. I have received some of the highest theological degrees. Certainly, I merit heaven’s favor!”
4. Again the angel shook his head sadly. Sorry. That is not the password. You do not know the King here.”
5. Then an old woman appeared before the celestial creature. He body was bent from many years of hard labor, but her eyes were shining and she radiated joy.
6. The angel asked her for the password. And she lifted up her hands and began to sing, “The Blood, the Blood, is all my plea. Hallelujah! It cleanseth me, it cleanseth me!”
7. And the angel smiled and the gates of heaven swung wide for her to enter!
B. THE CALL
1. There’s only one thing that can get you or I into heaven; that’s repentance and faith in Jesus and His blood shed on the cross.
2. There’s no better time than now to get right with God.
3. Let’s bow our heads. How many hear this morning would like God to save and forgive you for your sins? Join me in the Sinner’s Prayer.
4. Lord’s Supper.
