Anthropologists tell us of the significance of a door. A door is an everyday object that we all use every day. When doors were invented, it allowed the people to have a place of protection from wild animals and enemy humans. Before doors people would just try to hide, but with a door people could inhabit villages.
Blood on the Doorframes of the Hebrews
God was preparing the tenth plague that would be the action that would allow His people to leave Egypt. Exodus 12: 21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. 22 Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down.[1]
The Hebrews were slaves and so had rudimentary houses with dirt floors. At that time the basin was a ditch along the bottom of the door that prevented water from entering the home. They were to drain the lamb’s blood into this ditch and dip the hyssop branch in the blood and paint one side of the door. Then they would have dipped the branch again to paint the second side of the door. Finally, they would dip the branch a third time and paint the top of the door. In doing this, they would have made a familiar sign to us, a sign of the cross.
Then they had to go inside the house to be protected from the death angel. When this angel saw the blood on the door, he would pass over that house.
Jesus is our Gate or Door
John 10: 7 so he (Jesus) explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.[2]
Just as the Hebrews had to pass through the blood painted door to be protected from the judgment of the death angel, we must pass through the gate of Jesus to escape judgment. Our sins separate us from God and condemn us. But when we go through Jesus, our sins are forgiven, and we are safe from the judgment of God.
Jesus not only saves us from judgment but provides us with a rich and satisfying life. Our enemy satan, would lie to us to destroy us. But when we go through the gate of Jesus, we are protected and well taken care of.
To hear about the significance of a door, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/foreshadowing-of-the-cross-passover
[1,2] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.