“AND YE shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood... " Apparently the children of Israel had been obedient to the instructions that God had given them through Moses, and now the eventful hour was at hand. The lamb was to be slain and its blood carefully collected in a basin. They were then to take a bunch of hyssop and apply the blood to the lintel and the doorposts of their houses.
“A bunch of hyssop” is used on two occasions in Scripture—first by an Israelite with blood (Ex. 12) then by the hand of a clean person, for an Israelite, with water, (Num. 19). In both cases it speaks of humiliation. David refers to it in this way in Psalms 51:77Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7), where he cries, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.” This was the moral cleansing of his soul by complete humiliation. The Israelite on that memorable night in Egypt, in dipping the hyssop in the blood, was thus appropriating his personal share in the virtues of the blood of the lamb. It was truly humiliating for him to go outside bore a world of idolatry, into whose sins he had sunk, and confess that although he was one of God’s chon people, he could claim no emption from the judgment except by the shelter of the blood of the lamb. He justified God and condemned himself. The thief or the cross had, as it were, the bunch of hyssop in his hand, when he rebuked his fellow, saying, “We indeed justly.” He claimed no superiority over the railing robber, nor excused himself. He too justified God and condemned himself. Now there was no hindrance to the Lord’s making His love known to him. He believed in his heart, confessed with his mouth, and went to paradise with Jesus that day. Once there is no hindrance, how simple then becomes the story of His grace.
“And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.” So that Israel would never forget that night, they were told: “And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever.” verse 24. So impressive was this experience that they obeyed this commandment, but as time went on, while giving great importance to the feast itself, they quickly forgot its meaning. To this day many Jews still observe it, but they fail to see in it the Person of the Lord Jesus who came not only as their Messiah, but as the Saviour of the world as well. In their failure to own that Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us, the feast has become a mere religious form which cannot avail to bring them to God.
The Passover corresponds in type with another feast given to the church of God: “The Lord Jesus the same night in which He was brayed, took bread: and when He had given thanks, He break it, and said, Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.” 1 Cor. 11:23-2623For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:23‑26) How precious the invitation and privilege for each redeemed soul, to observe this loving remembrance, and to think of what it cost our Lord Jesus to bear our sins in His own body on the tree.
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