06/09/2018
Do you have sacrificial blood on your clothing? How about on the door of your household? No? Maybe you have it on the ground around you, in your prayer closet, or sprinkled on your Bible? Is the answer still no? Well there was a time when this would have been the case, but now that is no longer necessary because of the New Covenant we have with God in Jesus Christ. Today we consume the blood in Holy Communion in remembrance, and it is in each of us.
“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 12:13 ESV
Blood has always been precious in the Bible, from the very first offering made by Cain and Able in which the offering of a firstborn lamb was more pleasing to God than the offering of the fruit of the ground.
“In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.”
Genesis 4:3-5 ESV
To the covenant God made with Abraham concerning the land that was to be his forever more...
“But he said, "O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
“On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,””
Genesis 15:8-11, 18 ESV
To the blood shed in the covenant of Circumcision...
“This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.”
Genesis 17:10-11 ESV
To God’s request that Abraham offer Isaac on the mountain in Moriah...
“He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."”
Genesis 22:2 ESV
To the time of Moses when the sacrifices of the priests for Israel began, and became an annual atonement for sin...
“For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you." And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
Hebrews 9:19-22 ESV
Until finally, the once and for all blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ during His crucifixion when our sin could finally be forgiven. No further sacrifice was required after this; the power of His blood is sufficient for all mankind, and for all time.
“And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Luke 22:20 ESV
When we take communion in remembrance of Jesus we aren’t just sprinkling blood, or rubbing it on our door.... we are taking it into ourselves, consuming it, making it a part of who we are. In this way we are more than with Him, He is in us, and we in Him, and by this covenant He is in God... and has brought us there too.
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”
John 14:20 ESV
So not only is Jesus the blood sacrifice for us... The Lamb of God... His is the very blood of sacrifice within us. As we take communion and remember Him we should remember Him as who He is, but we should always remember the change He has made in us.
Blood has always been life, and always precious. We know that believing in Jesus and His commandments is the way to the Father, and that who He is and His teaching are truth, but we should never forget that by His blood He has given us life.
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 ESV
The sacrifice of blood is complete in Christ, and its offering is perfected in Him, but that doesn’t make its significance any less; it reveals the incredible power in the Cross, and in the cup as we take Communion... in this way we consume Christ, and His blood cleanses us from the inside out.
Are you excited to approach the Table? Are you ready to receive the blood of Jesus; the very Life within Him?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and for the blood He shed so that my sins could be cleansed, but I thank you further Holy Father because His blood has entered into me, and changed me... cleansing me, not like water pouring over me, but as living water I consume. You sent your Son to bring life, and He was obedient to your will. Thank you Father for your Mercy and Grace; thank you for the amazing depth of your love for me, and the suffering of all creation on the cross at Calvary. Thank you Merciful Father that Jesus not only washes our feet, but sprinkles our hearts with His blood, and cleanses our spirits in the process.
Call to us Father; let your Holy Spirit sing to us in the night, and whisper our names by day... wooing us, and beckoning to us saying “Come!” Call to us Father that we might hear the Gospel of Jesus and through His blood become one with Him, and through Him join as one with you. Your love and grace know no bounds and surround us always; the blood of your perfect pascal lamb given to change us and redeem us forever. Praised be your name, and the name of Jesus Christ who brings you glory. Holy, Holy, Holy are you my God.
“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:22 ESV
Rich Forbes