"Where the paschal blood is poured, death's dread angel sheathes the sword; Israel's hosts triumphant go through the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia!
"Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed, paschal victim, paschal bread; With sincerity and love eat we manna from above. Alleluia!"
Donated blood is a generous gift from those who are able to give, a gift that saves lives. Long ago, and in a very different way, blood saved lives when the people of God were enslaved in Egypt. With mighty acts of power, God set His people free. In a final act of judgment, the firstborn of Egypt died and blood saved the firstborn of Israel. Each Israelite family was to kill a lamb and put its blood on the lintel and doorposts of their home. When the Lord came to strike down the Egyptians, He would see the blood on the doors and pass over the Israelite homes, a saving act remembered in our hymn: "Where the paschal blood is poured, death's dread angel sheathes the sword." The people of Israel left Egypt, passing safely through the parted waters of the Red Sea as the waves held back by God's power returned to drown the pursuing foes.
Now "Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7b). Jesus' blood, shed on the cross, has set us free from sin, but that precious blood does not mark the lintels and doorposts of our homes. Jesus, the Lamb of God, gives us His body and blood to eat and drink in the holy celebration of the Lord's Supper. As it was for ancient Israel, for us too, "where the paschal blood is poured, death's dread angel sheathes the sword." Through faith in Christ Jesus, our sins are forgiven and, going "triumphant through the wave that drowns the foe," we will into enter eternal life in the presence of our Savior.
After speaking of the sacrifice of our Passover Lamb, the apostle Paul continues, "Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:8). The blood of Christ, our Passover Lamb, is not seen on our doors. Jesus' blood marks our lives and His love is made known in our words and actions. We are called to live a life of sincerity and love that reflects the love of our Savior. By the power of the Holy Spirit, through our works of kindness and our words of witness, others will come to know and trust in Jesus, the Passover Lamb who shed His blood to save them.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, through Your Words and Sacraments, strengthen my faith for a life of love and service. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing," which is number 633 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever received a blood transfusion? If so, did that affect your thinking about the value of blood?
2. How does the shedding of Jesus' blood point back to the sacrifices of the Old Testament?
3. Why is how we live as Christians important for the non-believers around us?
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 30-31 Luke 24:1-35
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