The Passover: Blood on the Doorposts and the Firstborn Redeemed

Bible Believing Christian
Sep 12
2 min read

The Passover: Blood on the Doorposts and the Firstborn Redeemed

The night of the first Passover forever changed the calendar of Israel and the destiny of humanity. God’s final plague on Egypt—the death of the firstborn—brought both terror and salvation. The Passover shows how deliverance requires blood and points straight to Jesus, the true Lamb of God.

Biblical Foundation

“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and I will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will come upon you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:12–13, NASB)

God commands each household to sacrifice a flawless lamb, apply its blood to the doorposts, and eat the meal in haste. This becomes the defining festival of Israel’s redemption.

Historical & Contextual Notes

A New Beginning: Exodus 12 resets Israel’s calendar: “This month shall be the beginning of months for you” (12:2). Redemption reorders time itself.

Blood as Atonement: The Hebrew פָּסַח (pasach, to pass over or protect) signals that judgment is turned aside by blood.

Memorial and Anticipation: The Passover was to be celebrated each year so that generations would remember God’s deliverance and look forward to the ultimate Lamb.

Misconceptions & Objections

“Why blood?” Scripture teaches that “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). The lamb’s blood symbolized life given in place of the guilty.

“Is this cruel?” God’s justice is never arbitrary. Egypt had enslaved and murdered Israel’s sons. Mercy was available to all who followed God’s command, including believing Egyptians.

Theological Reflection

Passover is both judgment and salvation. God’s holiness demands justice; His love provides a substitute. The meal also shapes identity: Israel leaves Egypt not merely freed but consecrated as God’s firstborn nation.

Connection to Christ – The True Passover Lamb

The New Testament sees Jesus as the fulfillment of every detail:

The Lamb without blemish: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Blood for deliverance: “Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

No bones broken: “Not a bone of Him shall be broken” (John 19:36), echoing Exodus 12:46.

A meal of remembrance: At the Last Supper, Jesus reinterprets Passover bread and wine as His body and blood, sealing the new covenant.

In the Greek Septuagint, the verb paschō (to suffer) resonates with Pascha, the Greek word for Passover, linking Jesus’ passion to the festival itself.

Christ-Centered Conclusion

The Passover is a vivid picture of the gospel. Deliverance from judgment requires spotless blood. By His cross, Jesus became the once-for-all Passover Lamb, securing eternal freedom and making every believer part of a redeemed people.