Tag: Jesus’ blood

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Matthew Devotionals

This is my blood

communion

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28)

Just thinking about how much those words must have meant to Peter every time he took communion after Jesus’ resurrection.

He had boasted that he would never fall away, that he would always be faithful to Jesus.

And yet not long after, he falls asleep when Jesus had asked him to watch and pray with him.

When Jesus woke him up, Peter was probably cursing himself, vowing to do better.

But then he falls asleep not only a second time, but also a third.

Then Judas comes to betray Jesus, and Peter attacks a servant, but instead of Jesus’ praise, he receives Jesus’ rebuke.

And then he denies three times that he even knew Jesus. He probably didn’t even realize what he was doing until that rooster crowed. And he weeps bitterly at his failure.

How much did Jesus’ words mean to him every time he took communion? Every time he felt the sting of his failures?

“This is my blood poured out for the sins of many. Poured out for your sins, Peter.”

I can’t count the times I’ve failed Jesus. Broken vows. Done the wrong thing despite my best intentions. Or denied Jesus if not by my words, by my actions.

And yet Jesus says to me, “This is my blood poured out for the sins of many. For your sins, Bruce.”

Remember those words every time you take communion. Remember them, every time you feel the sting of your sin, the bitterness of your failures. And as you remember them, rest in his grace.

This is my blood poured out for you…poured out for the forgiveness of your sins.

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Exodus Devotions

Sealed

The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you.

No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13)

Throughout the Bible, you see this theme of God judging people for their sin, and yet keeping his own people from that judgment.

You see it in Ezekiel 9:4. You see it also in Revelation 7:3 and 9:4.

But it is here that we see a picture of what that mark is which separates us from those being judged. It’s the blood of an innocent lamb.

For us, Jesus is our Passover lamb. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

You and I have been sealed with his blood shed for us on the cross.

And when this world is judged, God in his grace will pass over us.  

So each day, let us draw near to him with no fear of punishment, but rather in full assurance of his love and grace toward us. (1 John 4:17-18, Hebrews 10:19-22)

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Genesis Devotions

His blood cries out

Genesis

After Cain murdered his brother Abel, God told him,

Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!” (10)

Abel’s blood cried for justice.

So God told Cain,

“…now you are cursed…” (11)

And Cain had to depart from the presence of the Lord. (14, 16)

Thousands of years later, another innocent man died. Jesus died on a cross though he had done nothing wrong. But the writer of Hebrews tells us this:

Instead, you have come…to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel. (12:22-24)

While Abel’s blood cried out for justice, Jesus’ blood cried out for grace.

And so God looks at us and says, “My Son’s blood cries out to me from the ground. So now you are blessed. The curse has been lifted. And by his blood, you have been forgiven.”

So the writer of Hebrews encourages us,

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—and since we have a great high priest over the house of 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 in pure water.

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:19-23)