My mother loved embroidery and purchased a rather pricey embroidery machine to fashion different gifts. When she first started this new found hobby, she made hand towels with monograms for the whole family one year at Christmas. The next year we all received blankets with flowers and our first name embroidered on them…and so it went year after year receiving one of Momma’s creations.
Momma had her machine in a rather small little corner with endless spools of thread. I was quite fascinated with all of the hues of color there were and how pretty they looked lined up on wooden spokes ready to be beckoned to the machine. Each design with someone she loved in mind — certain to bring warmth and love — something she could give to demonstrate her love.
It calls to my mind a “thread” that is embroidered throughout the Old and New Testament. A crimson thread sewen through the fabric of God’s mercy and love toward us…a thread of redemption.
The first stitch begins in Genesis after Adam and Eve sinned — blood, shed to cover the nakedness of that sin.
“The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21
Then for the Hebrew Children — Israel…God instructed them to apply blood to their doorposts so that when He sees that blood of the Passover lamb He would not allow the destroyer to come into their homes.
“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. “You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and 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 come in to your houses to smite you.” Exodus 12:21-23
Throughout Scripture, that thread weaving and shuttling, by a merciful Father, toward the promised Messiah, Jesus the Christ! It was the plan all along — from the Creation to the Fall there was Jesus! Isaiah prophesied Him…
“But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:10-12
Christ Jesus came to save man from his sin! Then He spilled His blood and as that crimson flow from Calvary came to cover our transgressions — to wash us whiter than snow — to redeem us to eternal life. The Psalmist said,
“Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalms 51:7
As the Israelites applied the blood with hyssop branches to their doorposts the smell of hyssop permeated their homes, David prayed that the LORD would purify him with hyssop, and then as Jesus hung dying on the Cross of Calvary He said, “I am thirsty.” The Roman soldiers lifted a sponge full of the sour wine on the branch of hyssop —
“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:28-30
The smell of hyssop would bring to mind that the blood had been applied — forgiveness and redemption of sins … “it is finished.” And, death and the grave had been defeated when He rose again as He said!
The weaving, shuttling, detail of the crimson thread in the Master’s Hands — a beautiful gift for all who would accept it! God’s work and restoration have been offered you only need to apply that crimson blood to the doorposts of your life.
Azalea Trees and Tea Rooms 