Christ in the Old Testament

Exodus 12:22

Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Exodus 12:21-30 and John 19:28-30

So Moses has been given all of the instructions from God for the Israelites to be safe from the final plague. Now Moses turns to the elders to deliver the instructions to all the people. A new detail emerges in the instructions that we weren’t told until now. They are to use a bunch of hyssop for the application of the blood to the doorframe. In fact, this is the first mention of hyssop anywhere in the Bible. It certainly won’t be the last.

Hyssop is an herb in the mint family that is native to Southern Europe and the Middle East. It grows to about 24 inches in height and its flowers are quite colorful. It’s used as a food and drink flavoring and is known for having medicinal benefits particularly for the ear, nose and throat as well as a healing balm. It has a distinctive bitter taste.

In addition to its physical healing properties, hyssop is used as a ceremonial cleansing agent as prescribed by God in Leviticus. For instance, if anyone was healed of a skin disease or if a house was cleansed of a mold infestation, the priest was to take two birds and kill one of them over fresh water in a clay pot. He would then take the live bird, some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop and dip them in the mix of the blood of the dead bird and water. The priest would sprinkle the person or house with the mixture, declare them clean and release the live bird into the wild.

King Solomon in all his wisdom is said to have spoken about “plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls” (1 Kings 4:33). King David also spoke about hyssop in his repentant plea to God for mercy for committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband. David asked God, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).

And that of course brings us to Jesus. Let’s set the stage before we get to the hyssop. Jesus and his disciples had finished the Last Supper and Jesus had sent Judas off to betray him. They were met in the garden by Judas and an army of soldiers, chief priests and Pharisees. During the encounter, Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus then commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11)

That seems to be an interesting choice of words from Jesus. Jesus has used this phrase before this incident. He asks James and John, “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” (Matt 20:22) when they request to be seated at his right hand and left in his kingdom. The most obvious symbolism here is that the cup represents death. In Jesus’ case it is also a symbol of God’s wrath. We read in Job, “let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty” (Job 21:20) in reference to how God will deal with the wicked.

But there is also symbology between the cup Jesus will drink and hyssop. When do you need a drink? Some of us need to drink more than others if you know what I’m saying. We drink when we are thirsty. Check out John 19:28-30:

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (NIV)

Jesus is hanging on the cross and it says he knew that “everything had now been finished.” However, not all of the Scriptures had been fulfilled yet. He hadn’t had his drink yet. And what do you know? They gave him a drink from a sponge on a stalk of a hyssop plant. The hyssop plant would touch Jesus’ bloody body as it’s lifted to his mouth and be dipped in the blood of the Passover Lamb just as it was on that first Passover.

Just like the priests had done for centuries as God prescribed in Leviticus, the hyssop plant would be used in our cleansing ceremony. But we didn’t have a skin disease. We had a sin disease. Our priest Jesus would dip his blood in the mixture of water, drink from the cup and we would be pronounced clean from the disease of sin.

Today’s Prayer: I’m in awe of your power and dominion over all of the events of time. You bring meaning to the smallest of details. I’m thankful that when the events of my life can seem insignificant to a magnificent God, that I can look at such a seemingly insignificant hyssop plant and know that you see me and have plans for me.