Jan. 17thDas Zeichen an der Tür

On the night judgment passed through Egypt, God did not ask questions about the people inside the house. He did not check their past, their behavior, or how strong their faith felt that day. There was only one thing He looked for. The blood on the doorposts.

Inside those homes were people just like us. Some were fearful. Some were unsure. Some probably wondered if it was really enough. Yet safety was never based on what they felt or how well they performed. Protection rested on whether the blood was applied.

This moment was not random. It was a picture. A sign pointing forward to something greater. The lamb’s blood in Exodus was temporary, but it showed a truth that would later be fulfilled in Jesus. God saves by substitution, not self improvement.

The blood told a story. It said sin is serious and death is costly. It showed that judgment cannot be avoided by sincerity alone. Without blood, there was no escape. This was not harshness. It was honesty. Sin demands payment, and only God could provide what was required.

When God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13), He made it clear that salvation depends on what He sees, not what we claim. The blood was visible. It marked ownership. That house belonged to God, and judgment had no right to enter.

All of this pointed to Christ. Jesus became our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). Where many lambs once died, one perfect sacrifice now stands. His blood does not need repeating. It did not delay judgment. It finished it.

At the cross, God’s justice was satisfied. Romans tells us that Jesus was presented as a sacrifice of atonement through His blood (Romans 3:25). This means God’s wrath was fully answered, not ignored. Those who trust Christ are justified, not because they earned it, but because the payment was accepted.

Through His blood, we are redeemed (Ephesians 1:7). Redemption means we were bought at a price. Not with silver or effort, but with life itself. This freedom is not something we hope for later. Scripture says we have it now.

Because of the blood, believers are counted righteous. Judgment passes over those who are covered. Salvation is not hanging in the balance. Grace does not create fear. It creates confidence.

The blood of Jesus still speaks. It has not weakened. It has not expired. Nothing needs to be added. No extra payment. No proof of worth. What saved us is what keeps us.

God never asked Israel if they were good enough. He asked if the blood was there. Today, He asks the same question. Not about religion. Not about effort. Not about reputation. Only this. Have you trusted what Christ has done?

The gospel is simple. Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). Faith does not improve God’s provision. Faith simply receives it.

Salvation has never been about worthiness.
It has always been about the blood.

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him.” Romans 5:9