The Lamb’s Blood -1 Peter 1:18-19

The Lamb’s Blood                         

           -1 Peter 1:18-19

In my last post we rejoiced in our redemption as being reclaimed by our Creator and made new, much like a craftsman uses reclaimed wood to create something new and beautiful (1 Peter 1:17-19).

Now let’s go into a little more depth as to how God brought this incredible miracle about. Peter explained, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (v. 19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV).

Peter implies that his readers knew that their redemption did not come from any material wealth, good conduct, or through any kind of tradition passed down from forefathers.

This apostle wants to make it clear that salvation comes through the precious blood of Jesus, stating that Jesus was the once for all sacrificial lamb. Jews of that era were knowledgeable of the significance of the shedding of the blood of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Even the Gentiles of the day were somewhat familiar with these Jewish practices.

About 1400 years prior to Peter’s writing God gave Moses instructions on the atonement of the sins of the people through the sacrificial shedding of the blood of an unblemished lamb. Step-by-step instructions are recorded in Leviticus 14.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11 NKJV). This shedding of the blood of lambs and other animals was a foreshadowing of the crucifixion death and shed blood of Jesus.

In several places, the Bible states that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. A sacrifice is defined as offering something of value for a cause or for a specified reason. Making an atonement is offering a compensation or penitence to make amends for an offense committed. 

Therefore the system set up by God in the Old Testament stated that those who offered and were covered by the blood sacrifice were released—set free—from the consequences of their sin. But this was only temporary and needed to be repeated periodically. 

Jesus was without sin—that is without spot or blemish. When His life’s blood was shed, He made atonement for all the sins of all Mankind once for all. His dying words proclaimed that fact: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Each person then has the option to accept or reject His sacrifice. 

The writer of Hebrews goes into detail to explain Jesus’ atoning sacrifice: “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of the creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For it the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. ... Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:11-15 ESV).

As we enter into this season of thanksgiving, let us be mindful of the sacrificial blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus—the Lamb that was slain on behalf of sinners like you and me. I’m thankful for and rejoice in many things—especially family, freedom, home, and such. But the number one thing I’m thankful for and rejoice in is the blood of Jesus which was shed for me. Because of His atoning sacrifice my sins are washed away. My debt to God has been canceled out; I am in His own family for all eternity; and my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. 

Besides that, my precious loved ones, who I’m so thankful for, also have the privilege of being in God’s family and we can all be together with Jesus in Heaven. All our tears will be wiped away. There ‘ell be no hurt, no sorrow, no evil of any kind. Like my friend used to sing, “There‘ll be no band-aides in Heaven—no emergency medical care ...”

So number one on my Thanksgiving list is Jesus and the fact that He gave Himself a sacrifice to pay my sin debt.

Are you covered by the blood of the Lamb? We each have the choice to accept and receive Him (Jesus) or reject and deny Him. 

Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2017 Connie Wohlford

After-Easter Musings - Part 1

After-Easter Musings - Part 1

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Just because Easter was last week end doesn’t mean I must move on to other passages and Bible events. For the past few weeks I’ve been revisiting some of the details surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. This morning my focus was Matthew 27:45-54.

Above Golgotha, ominous darkness fell over the land. (v. 45) 

Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (v. 46).

This is the only place in Scripture where Jesus referred to God as “God” rather than “Father.” At this point, Jesus was suffering from the heavy weight of all the sin of all mankind. The Son of God, who was without sin, became sin for us so that we could wear His own righteousness in its place. 

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

It’s a hard saying that God forsook Jesus and, yes, I recently saw the movie in which the God character said that He did not turn away His Son—but was right there with Jesus all along. In my opinion, that’s a soulish, emotional wish which is not biblically sound.

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The truth is that at this point Jesus became all of the vile, shameful sin of mankind. Holy God does not tolerate sin and His turning away was a judicial act of a just God. In human terms we cannot completely understand what was happening in these moments. It was a traumatic spiritual and physical experience that Jesus alone went through and Jesus alone was qualified to do. 

I know that Jesus took the punishment I deserved—and you deserved and every human being deserved. In doing so He unlocked the way—ripped open the veil of separation—that prevented you and me from being in full relationship with God, our Creator and Heavenly Father.

We each owed a debt we couldn’t pay and Jesus paid a debt that He didn’t owe. That’s amazing grace!

Commentary in “The Jesus Bible” says “this pivotal moment in universal history, the day when Jesus took away the sin of the world, was not only about the souls of men and women; it was about the very character of God. The cross is the answer to the question above; the crucifixion is the apex of God’s love and mercy but also of his justice and righteousness. At the cross God not only provided the ultimate answer for how a person can be made righteous by faith, but he has also dispensed his justice. At the cross, God poured out his wrath on his own Son so that sinful human beings might be forgiven and granted the righteousness of Jesus’ life. At the cross, the God of righteousness both demonstrates and grants righteousness, for he is both just and the One who justifies.”*

By bearing the burden of our sin, Jesus made a way for us to have eternal life instead of eternal damnation, which we each deserve. This eternal life we cannot earn through doing good things. It is a free gift we accept by believing Jesus is who the Bible says He is—the unique Son of God—and by receiving Him as Lord of our lives. 

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Verse 50 say that Jesus cried out for the last time. His words are recorded by the gospel writer, John: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Then Jesus gave up His spirit and died. 

Photo by Connie Wohlford

Jesus knew He had completed the work His Father sent Him to do. It was done—mission accomplished. At that moment Jesus chose to release His spirit from His human body. He Himself maintained control the entire time. While He hung on the cross He could have called ten thousand angels to rescue Him and wipe out all who opposed Him. But because of His and His Father’s great love for us, He chose to go through with the torment. He knew this was the only way. He had previously said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).  

Jesus willingly became the once-for-all sacrificial Lamb on that Passover 2000 years ago. John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God” on the day he baptized Him (John 1:29). Ever since the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, for those who put our trust in Him, the Death Angel passes over.

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Please comment below if you would like to participate in the conversation.

*”The Jesus Bible, NIV Edition,” Copyright 2016 by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, p.1751

©Copyright 2017 Connie Wohlford

The Miracle of the Veil

The Miracle of the Veil

How can it be—that a massive curtain can rip from top to bottom without the help of a tool—perhaps a chainsaw or a machete or—something?  

By massive, I mean—we’re looking at a curtain about the thickness of a man’s hand, according to the Jewish historian, Josephus. That’s about four inches thick! And this curtain, known as the veil, was thought to be 60 feet high. It was colossal!  

The veil was the dividing wall between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, often called the Holy of Holies, in the Temple (Ex. 26:33). The Holy of Holies was the place where God dwelt. The veil provided a separation between Holy God and sinful man.

Only the high priest was permitted to go beyond it and only once a year—on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). On this sacred day, after much preparation, the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies to make a blood sacrifice to atone for sins the people had committed in ignorance (Heb. 9:7).

At the very moment Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the Temple was torn from the top, down. The Gospel writer says, “And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:37-38 NKJV).

This veil could not have been torn at the hands of men. Nor could it have been a result of the ensuing earthquake. God Himself tore the veil. God Himself provided the once for all blood sacrifice that atoned for the sins of all mankind.

God the Father, provided His Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice. Thus when Jesus breathed His last breath, the separation veil was torn and the way was made for us—anyone willing—to access our Heavenly Father.

The writer of Hebrews declares, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,” (Hebrews 10:19-20 NASB).

 SO—the rending of the separation veil, which blocked access to the presence of God, was a physical occurrence, done by the hand of God, with celestial significance. In essence, Jesus’ death enacted the tearing of the veil so that we, who put our trust in Him, may have access to our Creator—our Heavenly Father. We may now be in His Heavenly Kingdom, as His own child “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17). We may now have a personal relationship with God through Jesus and enjoy its benefits.  

SO—the rending of the separation veil, which blocked access to the presence of God, was a physical occurrence, done by the hand of God, with celestial significance. In essence, Jesus’ death enacted the tearing of the veil so that we, who put our trust in Him, may have access to our Creator—our Heavenly Father. We may now be in His Heavenly Kingdom, as His own child “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17). We may now have a personal relationship with God through Jesus and enjoy its benefits.

 

 

Thank you, Jesus, for following through to the finish and thank you God for tearing the veil.

Let us rejoice for the work that was done on that Good Friday 2000 years ago. And let us glorify God for raising Jesus back to life three days later, conquering death so we too can have Eternal Life.

 

Happy Resurrection Day to you and your loved ones.

©Connie Wohlford 2016