Today’s reading from The One Year Bible:
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. – Psalms 103:2-3
In the First World War, a young man had been wounded. The medic who came to treat him said, “I am sorry, but you have lost your arm.” The young soldier replied, “Doctor, I didn’t lose it. I gave it.” Jesus did not lose His life, He gave it—for you!
Jesus came “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). At the last supper, when Jesus took the cup, He said, “This is my blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24). The “precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19) is stressed throughout the whole New Testament:
- It makes forgiveness of sins possible (Colossians 1:14)
- It purifies us from every sin (1 John 1:7)
- We draw near to God through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13)
- It brings peace and reconciliation to God (Colossians 1:20)
- It gives life to those who consume it (John 6:53)
- It is the means by which we overcome Satan (Revelation 12:11)
You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. – Hebrews 12:24
Did you catch that? The call is to come to Jesus… and to the sprinkled blood. Have you come to Jesus? Have you come to the sprinkled blood? As we come to the conclusion of our study, “Lessons from the Cross,” I want to encourage you to take notice of the blood. Anyone standing around a crucifixion could not help but notice the blood. But with Jesus, that blood was different. It was not the blood of a man… it was the blood of God spilled out for you and me. Oh, may the Holy Spirit give you revelation to all that the blood has purchased for you.
Thanks for joining me for the first three days of May as we pray and fast together. I hope to see you this Wednesday night at the prayer gathering and at the Amazing Love Family Conference this weekend.
Kevin
