This presentation was designed for a PowerPoint format and originally presented to a high-school audience. If you have questions or would like the original PowerPoint itself, drop me an email at Robert.fox@alltel.com
[The Scarlet Thread]
Slide graphic: scarlet thread running from Eden, through Noah’s ark, through Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, through the Passover, through Jericho, to the cross.
Some people have a difficult time thinking of the Old Testament and the New testament as parts of the same, cohesive book. They seem like two unrelated books. At best, many people see the Old Testament as the story of a dead system that has been totally replaced and marginalized by the New Testament.
This is just not true. The Bible is one cohesive story, spanning both the Old and New Testaments. The same message is told from beginning to end.
Today we’re going to take a quick walk through the Old Testament, touching on just the most popular Bible stories – the ones you may well have heard all your life. IF you don’t already, I’m hoping that by the end of the Quest, you’ll see the thread that connects them all and weaves them into a single message.
This thread that connects them all has been called many things. One popular description today names it the "scarlet thread of redemption”.
[The Garden of Eden]
Slide graphic: Adam and Eve banished from garden. Scarlet thread begins
Slide text:
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22)
This “blood-red” thread begins in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden. God put two special trees in the Garden: The Tree of Life, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
• The Tree of Life was God’s gift to mankind – his plan for man to life forever in this beautiful place, surrounded by all the perfect things God had created, waling and talking with the physical presence of God.
• On the other hand, God told Adam that he could not eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil or he would die.
Adam and Eve had a choice between two trees – the one God gave them, or the one he told them was forbidden. If Adam and Eve chose to eat from the Tree of Life, they would be trusting that God’s way was best – they would chose to submit to His will and obey. When they chose to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were choosing a different way than the one God prepared for them. They chose to make their own choice about what they would do, to follow their own hearts, instead of God’s.
This choice to follow their own path is the original sin of mankind. That is the meaning of the name of the tree. Adam and Eve both decided that they could be the ones to determine what was right and wrong instead of trusting God – they decided they had enough knowledge to decide what was good and what was evil – the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
When they chose to disobey God, they were actually making the same choice that Satan made. Satan knew who God was, but instead of following God’s plan, Satan wanted to create a plan of his own. When he offered Eve the apple, he was inviting her to join him in his “independence” from God.
Both Adam and Eve knew that the penalty for eating from this tree was death. They knew they deserved to die. God had promised this would be the punishment, and his promise must be kept. The Garden was a place of God’s perfection. Now that Adam and Even had become evil, they could not be there. The cherubim that guarded the garden with flaming swords were powerful creatures that enforce Gods will. Picture the cherubim charging through the garden to destroy Adam and Eve – the sword of judgment swinging high. Then, at the last moment in one instant God prepared a substitute so that the sword would switch off course and fall upon it. That substitute bears every drop of justice completely and Adam and Eve could go free. Imagine their horror, though – remember they had never seen death – in fact there had never been a death in the world before. He fashioned the skin of this sacrifice into a covering for Adam and Eve, so that they could enter his presence again.
Yet though this sacrifice covered their immediate guilt of disobedience and allowed them to leave the bushes where they had been hiding, it was not enough to change the fact that they had chosen a path other than God’s. Now they must walk that path. God did not so much kick Adam and Even out of the Garden as they chose to go. Yet as God prepared them for their journey, he prophesied that there would one day come a descendant of Eve’s who would crush Satan and totally wipe away the guilt of mankind’s choice – the choice to go their own way instead of God’s way.
John tells in revelations about the day when we will all stand in God’s presence, once again made pure through the sacrifice of Jesus, made white as snow by his blood. And John describes that place where we will be – a place with only one tree – the Tree of Life.
The skins are a picture of what Christ will do for us. This is where the scarlet thread begins.
[Cain and Abel]
Slide Graphic: Cain murdering Abel – thread runs across page
Slide Text:
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.
4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast
(Genesis 4:3-5)
This is another bible passage that we don’t do a good job explaining today. Why did God refuse Cain’s offering? After all, he did show up first to bring an offering. Cain’s offering is the very first recorded act of religious devotion. Isn’t this a good thing?
On the surface it may appear so, but look at the passage closely sometime. Can brought his best, but it was the best of what he himself had made. He wanted to offer his own efforts, as if his own works could save him. Cain did not have a repentant attitude – in fact it seems more one of pride in his own accomplishments. This is the sin of Satan, the same as the choice of eating from the tree of choosing our own way. Cain believed that what he accomplished in his own strength was worthy to stand before God. This is why he was angry when God rejected his offering.
But Abel brought the firstborn of his flocks, not some “thing” he had made, but an innocent creature who would be killed in his place. Abel understood that he was guilty and that anything he did was unworthy to bring to God. In his faith, he understood he needed a substitute for himself, because it was himself who deserved punishment.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4 )
If you were to tap the shoulder of one of the common Israelites at the altar and ask him, "Why are you here?" If he was a man of faith he would say, "because I am a sinner and I deserve to die, but the Lord my God, blessed be He, has given me a system and its called His Law, and according to ceremonial law this animal, when I press my hand upon its head, becomes me and I become as innocent as it is, its innocence is mine, my judgment is his, and as I kill it I realize that I should be slain but because God says so I am forgiven."
1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let’s go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Genesis 4
[Adam to Noah]
Slide Graphic: Table, three columns – thread running through it
Name Meaning Reference
Adam Man Genesis 2:7,19
Seth Appointed Genesis 4:25
Enos Moral Genesis 4:26
Canan Sorrow Genesis 5:9
Mahalaleel The Blessed God Genesis 5:12
Jared Shall Come Down Geneses 5:15
Enoch Teaching Genesis 5:18
Methuselah His Death Shall Bring Genesis 5:21
Lamech The Despairing Genesis 5:25
Noah Rest, Comfort Genesis 5:29; 6:9
Slide Text:
He named him Noah and said, "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.” (Genesis 5:29)
This thread runs throughout every book, every chapter of the Old Testament. This is not an irrelevant, outdated book! The whole Old Testament is one continuous message about the sin of man (choosing our own way over obeying God) and the One who will come to restore what was broken. The final sacrifice which will finally wipe away the guilt of that choice.
This message permeates every verse. It is literally everywhere. It is even spelled out clearly in the names of the descendants of Adam down to Noah.
The New Testament is not “Plan B”. From the beginning, there was only one plan, only one way by which mankind could be restored.
[The Sacrifice of Isaac]
Slide graphic: sacrifice of Isaac – thread running through it
Slide text:
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. (Genesis 22:13)
You remember this one. God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, to God. Remember Abraham and Sarah had had no children and waited many years for God’s promise of a child to be fulfilled. Remember that God had promised that he would make Abraham’s descendant’s a great nation. Remember that Abraham and Sarah were so delighted to have this wonderful child that they named him Isaac, which means “laughter”.
And now God wanted Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Would Abraham refuse? Abraham had often sacrificed the firstborn of his flocks as a substitute for his own guilt. Now God asked him to sacrifice his only son. Many of us can’t understand his obedience. How could you kill your only son? Wouldn’t you say, “No, God. There must be some other way. I will find another way”.
But Abraham knew that was the sin of Satan, the sin of Adam. Choosing to find your own way rather than trusting God and being obedient to his way. Abraham chose the Tree of Life – the tree of trust in God – to rely on His wisdom. You have to understand, Abraham chose to obey God, yet he never lost faith that God would provide a way. He told the servants that “WE will WORSHIP God” and “WE will return”. Abraham knew – there is always a ram in the thicket.
Genesis 22
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied. 2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
[Plagues in Egypt]
Slide Graphic: Charlton Heston as Moses – thread running through it
Slide Text:
12 "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
Exodus 12:12-13
Everyone knows the story of the Plagues in Egypt. The final plague was the angel of death sent to kill all the firstborn sons. God’s wrath was descending on Egypt because they had refused to obey God (“let my people go”). This is the same story of sin that we saw in the Garden - man choosing to disobey God and go their own way. This choice must be punished. But God told the Israelites to put the blood of an innocent lamb on their doorposts, and the angel of death would “pass over” their house, and only punish the people of Egypt.
Later, the Israelites were commanded by God to keep this “Passover” feast-day. Each year they were to take a spotless baby lamb into their house as a pet for four days. On the fourth day the lamb was taken, kicking and bleating, to the temple and slaughtered there in front of the family, including children (Deut 15:5-6). This was an object lesson that would be hard to forget – the blood of the lamb was required to prevent the punishment of death. At certain times during the Passover celebration there were over 250,000 lambs slain with blood everywhere, all over the Temple, with so much blood flowing down the brook Kidron that it was called a "horrifying sight."
The “last supper” of Jesus was a Passover dinner (Seder). The Jewish traditional Seder has been practiced for thousands of years just as it is practiced today. There are four cups:
• The cup of sanctification –youngest child asks the four “why” questions (“tonight”, “bitter herbs”, “twice dipped”, “cushions”), Thank God, wash hands (or feet), dip bitter herbs in salt water and eat them (Jesus gives sop to Judas), read Exodus 12 – history of first Passover.
• The cup of plagues – ten drops are spilled on each plate and the names of the 10 plagues spoken, then the meal is eaten. The bones of the lamb were not to be broken (Exodus 12:46), as Christ’s bones were not broken on the cross. Lambs have not been used since the second temple was destroyed (Deut 15:6).
• The cup of redemption – The bread is broken. Part of the bread is hidden away for a time, usually “buried” under the cushions or in a drawer under the table. When the bread is “found”, it is eaten with the third cup. This is where Christ told his disciples to “do this in remembrance of me”. He is telling the disciples that the bread that is broken is his body, and the cup or redemption is his blood.
• The cup of Praise (Elijah’s cup) – at this point the youngest child goes to the door and looks to see if Elijah is coming. Legend is that one day Elijah himself will come to the Passover, sit down, drink the cup, and announce that the Messiah has come. the Seder meal concludes with the singing of the remaining ’Halel’ (or Hallelujah) Psalms (115-118) and the ’Great Halel’, Psalm 136 "God’s love endures for ever". These psalms are probably the ’hymn’ mentioned in Matthew 26:30. Psalm 116 is particularly pertinent to the Lord’s prayer in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39,42). The celebration is ended as the father in a melancholy way says...."L’ shanah haba’ah b’yrushalayim." Meaning “Next year in Jerusalem.”
30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30)
It is significant that the firstborn had to die. God told Moses:
Then say to Pharaoh, ’This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’ " (Exodus 4:22-23)
And when the time came to fully redeem Israel, to offer the sacrifice that would be acceptable for complete forgiveness of their sins, God did not ask the Israelites to offer their own firstborn sons – he offered his own instead.
Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7b)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
15And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." 17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:15-20
[Jericho]
Slide graphic: Jericho archeological site – thread running through it
Slide Text:
19 If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."
21 "Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
Joshua 2
After Moses led the people out of bondage and received the 10 commandments, they Israelites refused to obey God and enter into the promised land. For this disobedience, God caused the people to wander in the wilderness until all those who had participated in the choice to disobey had died. The next generation grew up ready to trust God and obey Him. When the call came, this generation obeyed and entered the promised land.
Jericho was the first city they were told to conquer. It was, like most cities of that day, protected by a high wall. Israel, under Joshua’s leadership, decided to send spies to the city. When spies were sent into Jericho, a prostitute named Rahab welcomed them in, and hid them in her home. Moreover, she helped them to get out of the city undetected by letting them down a rope hung from the window of her house, which was built on the city wall.
Though she had lived an immoral life, and was among the people whom God was about to destroy, she found favor in the eyes of this God of Israel, for she put her faith in Him. The spies vowed not to destroy her household, telling her to place a cord of scarlet thread in her window. This, they said, would ensure safety for her and all of her family who she could gather into her house. They spies probably did not know that only God Himself could protect her in the time of judgment on her city. You see, the city wall on which her house was built was destined for divine destruction.
She obeyed: she hung the rope of scarlet thread in her window.
Jericho was conquered by a miracle of God. Israel was told to march around the city in silence for seven days. On the seventh day, they were told to march around it seven times, then to shout a great shout. When they shouted, the city wall collapsed. The army of Israel went in to destroy the city. Rahab and all her relatives were saved, however, and taken in as part of God’s people. Even her belongings were saved. All because of her obedience to tie the scarlet thread in her window!
That "scarlet thread" in her window not only saved her from destruction, but also brought her into a whole new life. She became a mother in the royal bloodline of Israel! Rahab -- prostitute and heathen --became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth. She ended up the great grandmother of King David, and in the direct lineage of Jesus. (see Ruth 4 and Matthew 1)
Archeology has verified many of the details of this particular passage of the Bible.
• At the time of the Israelite Conquest, Jericho was heavily fortified, as the Bible implies (Joshua 2:5,15).
• Piles of mud bricks from the collapsed city wall were found at the base of the tell, verifying that "the wall fell beneath itself" (Hebrew, watippol hahomah tahteyha, Joshua 6:20).
• An earthen embankment around the city required the fighters to go "up into the city" (Joshua 6:20).
• Houses were built against a portion of the city wall that did not collapse, verifying that Rahab’s house was built against the city wall (Hebrew, betah be qir hahomah, Joshua 2:15), and that her house was spared (Joshua 2:14-21; 6:22-23). Only a short section of the Northern wall did not collapse.
• A layer of ash 3-foot thick with burned timbers and debris demonstrates that the Israelites "burned the whole city and everything in it" (Joshua 6:24).
• The destruction occurred at the end of the 15th century BC, precisely the time of the Conquest of Canaan according to the internal chronology of the Bible (I Kings 6:1; Judges 11:26; I Chronicles 6:33-37). Many large jars full of charred grain were found in the destroyed buildings. This is a very rare find since, because of its value, grain was normally plundered from a vanquished city. The large amount of grain at Jericho validates the time of year (early spring), the duration of the siege (short) and the abandonment of the city without looting, all as recorded in the Bible.
[The Crucifixion]
Slide graphic: The crucifixion, from “The Passion of the Christ” – thread ends
Slide text:
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21a)
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:20b)
This “scarlet thread” we’ve been talking about runs right through the Old Testament, and continues unchanged, right up to the crucifixion of Christ. As we see throughout the Old Testament – God knew from the beginning that this is the way He would redeem mankind.
All the bloody sacrifices made under the old covenant were powerless in themselves. Their only power lay in the fact that they foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice. It was the faith, not the blood that saved the patriarchs.
It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. (Romans 4:13)
18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:18-21
Just as when God made clothes for Adam and Eve from the skins of the animal who died in their place:
For all of you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Gal3:27)
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)
At the instant Christ died on the cross, we were redeemed – all of us. All of mankind, Old and New Testament – Christ paid the price for us all. Because mankind had chosen to follow Satan, to choose their own destiny over obedience to God, we were cut off from God. That’s what the word “sin” means – “separated”. In the Old Testament, The presence of God on Earth was only in the Holy of Holies, accessible only by the high priest, and only on one day of the year. When our debt was paid, the separation between us and God was removed. God reached down and tore open the curtain that hid the Holy of Holies. He had been waiting to remove that separation since he had to remove Adam and Eve from his presence.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Mark 15:38)
[So, What Does it Mean to be “Saved”?]
Slide graphic: Student with head bowed
Slide text:
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19)
If Christ’s death was sufficient, then is everyone now saved? No.
Many people have been taught that to be saved, you must simply believe in the fact that there is a heaven and a hell, that Christ was God made flesh, and that by dying for our sins we are saved. All those facts are true, but intellectual belief in them alone is not enough! Satan knows all of these facts – he believes these facts – is he saved? Does Christ’s blood cover his sin?
The answer goes back to the original sin – the same sin both Satan and Adam committed – they chose to go their own way rather than obey Christ. They chose not to obey the will of God.
26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse- 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
You can believe the facts, but if you still chose to ignore these facts and live your life by your own rules, then you are still choosing the wrong tree. You are not choosing Life. Satan is not saved by Christ’s blood, even though he understands exactly who Christ was and what his death meant. Satan is not saved because he will not submit to God’s will, God’s plan. He still wants to control his own destiny. He does not trust that God’s way is better. He does not have faith.
Belief is different than Faith. To be saved, you don’t actually have to understand all the facts. I don’t think there is a person on earth who truly comprehends all that Christ’s sacrifice means. We are all like children. You don’t have to know all the facts. What you do need is to have faith that God’s way is better than your way. When you have that faith, that trust, then you have chosen the right tree – God’s way. When you have that faith, Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient to restore you to God.
But wait! Aren’t there a ton of verses saying that all you have to do is believe? Like John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
What is not clear in this translation is the meaning of the word that is used. The word “believe” in this verse is the greek word πςστεύω pistĕuō (pist-yoo-oh). It means more than intellectual acceptance of facts. It means “to have faith” “to trust”, “to commit”.
You have been bought at a great price. This sacrifice is proof that “God’s love endures forever”.
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Luke 7:41-43
[Saved by the Blood of the Overcomer]
Slide text: Horse, smallpox victim
(Note: This illustration taken from Wayne Rice’s “Hot Illustrations for Teens”)
Louis Pasteur’s coworker in the demonstration of what used to be called the germ theory was Dr. Felix Ruh, a Jewish doctor in Paris. The physician’s granddaughter had died of black diphtheria, and Dr. Ruh, vowing he would find out what killed his granddaughter, locked himself in his laboratory for days. He emerged with a fierce determination to prove, with his colleague Louis Pasteur, that the germ theory was more than a theory.
The medical association had disapproved of Pasteur and had succeeded in getting him exiled, but he did not go far from Paris. He hid in the forest and erected a laboratory in which to continue his forbidden research.
Twenty beautiful horses were led out into the forest to the improvised laboratory. Scientists, doctors and nurses came to watch the experiment. Dr. Ruh opened a steel vault and took out a large pail filled with black diphtheria germs, which he had cultured carefully for months. There were enough germs in that pail to kill everyone in France. The scientist went to each horse and swabbed its nostrils, tongue, throat and eyes with the deadly germs. Each horse developed a terrific fever, and all but one died. Most of the doctors and scientists wearied of the experiment and did not remain for what they thought would be the death of the remaining horse.
For several more days the final horse lingered, lying pathetically on the ground. While Dr. Ruh, Pasteur and several others were sleeping on cots in the stables, the orderly on duty had been instructed to awaken the scientists should there be any change in the animal’s temperature during the night.
About 2 a.m., the thermometer showed a half-degree decrease, and the orderly awakened Dr. Ruh. By morning the temperature had dropped two more degrees. By night the fever was entirely gone, and the horse was able to stand, eat and drink.
Then Dr. Ruh took a sledgehammer and struck that beautiful horse a deathblow between the eyes. The scientist drew all the blood from the veins of this animal that had developed the black diphtheria but had overcome it. The scientists drove as fast as they could to the municipal hospital in Paris. The forced their way past the superintendent and the guards and went into the ward where 300 babies lay, segregated to die from black diphtheria. With the blood of the horse, the forcibly inoculated every one of the babies. All but three lived and recovered completely. They were saved by the blood of an overcomer.
