Jerusalem – Disciples of the martyred Jesus of Nazareth continue to meet daily here in Jerusalem, and many travelers who are of The Way seek them out to bring them news of how their sect is spreading throughout the Empire. Recent travelers from Galatia have brought word of a letter written by Peter, one of the early disciples who was with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry in Galilee.
In this letter Peter compared Jesus to the Passover lamb when he said, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:18-19)."
Upon hearing this one of the disciples stood up in the assembly and read from Moses.
"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. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 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."
"On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn-- both men and animals-- and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 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." (Exod 12:3, 5-7, 12-13 NIV)
These disciples of Jesus believe that they are marked by Jesus’ blood, just as the houses of Israel were marked by the blood of the Passover lamb. And just as on that night long ago when God brought judgment upon Egypt but passed over the Israelite houses, when God brings judgment upon the World, He will not bring judgment upon those souls that are marked with the blood of Jesus. It’s no wonder this sect is spreading throughout the Empire in spite of heavy persecution. Who wouldn’t want to be marked by the blood of this Passover lamb?
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at gerrys@christianlight.com
Copyright © 1996 by Gerry Sturgeon
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.