How Much More the Blood?

What are you willing to do to make up for what you have done? What are you willing to do to make things right? All thoughts that we have each had from time to time I am sure. Perhaps one of your children has hurt the feelings of another child, perhaps they have broken something of value. How many times have you called a customer service line because they have made a mistake and asked the question: What are you going to do to make it right?

I’m a problem solver by nature. My first inclination when an issue arises is to think about how I can solve the problem, how can I make it work, how can I make it right. I hate the feeling that I get when I have to admit that there is nothing that I can do to fix something, to make something go smoothly, or even to right a wrong. Sometimes I even feel this way when I think about how I have wronged God. When I have sinned against Him.

In Scripture we are taught, though certainly we already know, that every inclination of man is sinful, the heart of man is wicked, we sin against God each and every day whether we know it or not. The words of the prophet Jeremiah are recorded for us and the truth of what he has said should ring in our ears daily:

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer 17:9 NIV)

Who can understand it? I have often gotten angry with myself after I have done something I shouldn’t have done, perhaps I yelled at my kids or judged the driving abilities of someone who’s situation I can’t know. Why? Why can I not keep from reacting in this way?

Try as we might we still get dragged back into our sinful ways. There are of course things that we can do about this. We can make serious efforts to keep from sinning, but still we have sinned, and about that there is nothing we can do. Thankfully something has been done for us!

Matthew records for us the institution of the cup of communion:

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Mat 26:27-28 NIV)

Christ’s blood has been poured out for us for the forgiveness of our sins…

The author of Hebrews explored further the sacrifice that Christ made for us, the blood of our Lord and Savior that was poured out for us.

When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
(Heb 9:11-14 NIV)

Christ did not enter into the most holy place through the blood of animals but through His blood that was freely given for us, given for us for the forgiveness of our sins. The blood of Christ was shed to save us from our acts that lead to our death..

How true the words of that great song ring…

It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive
It’s all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man’s life
It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive
I’m alive, I’m alive

It’s all because of Jesus that we are alive!