Exodus 12:21 So Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and take lambs for yourselves and for your families, and sacrifice the Passover. 22 Then you will take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and with the blood that is in the basin you will sprinkle the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you will go out of his door until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass by to smite the Egyptians; but when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.
We are approaching the central time of Christianity, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
The exodus passage tells us about the lamb:
-His blood served to prevent the destroyer from entering the homes of the Jews
What are doors really for?
- They are used to prevent entry;
- We remember how Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem precisely because anyone could enter;
-His twelve doors were used to let in or not to let in.
What should be the characteristic of a door?
- It must certainly be perfect to allow the doors to open and close without difficulty;
- The gates of the Egyptians were beautiful, while those of the Jews were slave gates;
- The difference was in the blood.
God loves you with a unique love:
-He created you perfect;
-But he wants to see you beautiful:
o Not of the beauty of the Egyptians;
o But of the beauty of the blood of Jesus:
- The destroyer did not look at the preciousness of the Egyptian door friezes;
- He looked at the beauty of the sacrifice of the Lamb Jesus.
The passage also contains a note:
- Don't leave the house;
- Keep the door closed;
- Salvation is for those who are inside;
- For those who are in Christ and do not go out into the world.
What could be the believer's problem?
- It is probably thinking that gold and silver (the Egyptian doors) are better than Blood (the door of Jesus);
- One's own strength with faith.
Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up to the temple together about the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And there was a man lame from birth, who was brought every day and placed at the gate of the temple, called Beautiful, to ask alms of those who entered the temple. 3 This man, having seen Peter and John about to enter the temple, asked them for alms. 4 Then Peter, with John, fixed their eyes on him, and said, "Look at us." 5 And he looked at them attentively, hoping to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said: "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazarene, arise and walk!". 7 And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ankles became strong. 8 And he with a leap stood up and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking, jumping and praising God
I would like to talk to you for a moment about the door called Bella:
- In Nehemiah it is called the Eastern gate:
o This indicates that it was reached by the first sun of each day;
o This also gave it the name of Golden Gate;
- It is exposed towards the Mount of Olives:
o Indicates that there is nothing in front of it;
- It was the only door that led directly to the temple in Jerusalem;
- It is also called the door of mercy;
- This door tells us about Jesus:
o He is our light;
o Our precious gold;
o The one and only lord and savior;
o The merciful;
o The only one who brings us to the presence of God.
Let us try to understand how the poor lame man's highest expectations were actually very limited expectations
The lame man's expectations:
- Someone will take me to the Beautiful door (the expectation of God's mercy);
- Someone will give me something to live on (the expectation of human mercy);
- He believed this, but God has much higher expectations for us.
Acts 3:5 And he looked at them attentively, hoping to receive something from them:
-What did he expect? Gold and silver:
o Acts 3:6 But Peter said, I have neither silver nor gold;
- What did he receive? The blood of Jesus:
o Acts 3:6 what I have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, arise and walk!
Acts 3:7 And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ankles became strong. 8 And with a leap he stood up and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking, jumping and praising God
- The lame man expected gold and silver to be able to pay for the strength of others who took him to the temple:
o God gave him the strength to leap like a deer;
- He remained at the door of mercy (he could not enter because he was lame and therefore impure) hoping that God would come out for him:
o God gave him salvation to enter the presence of God.
He never walked, played or ran. Her mother never feel him in her womb kicking her. Mai took her first step to give joy to her parents.
- This is the condition of the man who believes that standing at the door of mercy is the best;
-But when he receives the blood of the lamb his soul becomes like that of a deer.
He never praised God, full of pain, perhaps anger, afflicted and pierced:
- This is the condition of the man who feels comfortable near the door of mercy without having crossed it;
- But when he receives the blood of the lamb he begins to praise God and run towards him;
-Now he really knows mercy, he is inside;
- He knows that outside there is a false illusion, there is the destroyer.
There is also a clear message for the believer:
- You are beautiful because there is the blood of Jesus on you;
- No you have to sit in a corner hoping to get something from someone who has a lot;
- Your hope must be in Christ first and foremost;
-Enter his presence and ask;
- You are no stranger to the house of God;
- Don't stay outside, come in.
