Skip to main content

305. The Sixth Word

Hebrews 10:5-14, John 19:30
Key Verse: "It is finished."
John 19:30

It is easy to think that this word refers to the oxos that Jesus has just drunk from the sponge. In truth, this statement has much more depth to it than simply acknowledging a quenched thirst. We would understand it best if Jesus had said, "Paid in full," for in fact, this is what He meant.

Jesus had fulfilled every prophesy spoken of Him up to this point. He would continue fulfilling more prophesies through His death, burial and resurrection, but at this point, Jesus had kept His word to us and Satan, and has completed all that was required of Him, through His atoning sacrifice, to prepare the way for us to be forgiven by God of our sin.

He had been the perfect lamb. He had borne our sin and shame. As the lamb sheds its blood, He had shed His blood for us. "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:22) This wasn't a requirement from God because He enjoyed bloodshed. Rather, this is how precious blood is. The shedding of the blood of sheep reminds us of our sin, and how serious it is, but only through the shedding of Christ's blood are we truly forgiven.

"Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest, (Jesus), had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God." (Hebrews 10:11-12) Why? Because it was finished. "Paid in full." The suffering had been enough. The blood shed had been enough. The debt had been fulfilled and through it, cancelled. We no longer have the guilt of our sins hanging over our heads because they have been completely atoned for, on this day, while Jesus hung on the cross.

"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. 9:13-14) His blood is more precious than a lamb's could ever be. It is more precious than any fragrance used to anoint His feet, and it was shed for you and me.

Hymn: "Nothingbut the Blood" 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Faithful Through the Ages

Luke 2:22-38 Listen Link:  http://www.firstcovenantcadillac.org/#!this-weeks-sermon/c20mw Forgive the buzz on this one. I had a cold and my voice was way down. One of the odd little quirky things that Kathy and I like to do from time to time is walk through old cemeteries and read the tombstones. Sometimes there are interesting little tidbits of information or a verse of Scripture that give a hint to what kind of person lies beneath our feet. Often, however, there is just the name, the date born and the date of death with just a dash between. The dash represents the whole life lived between the two dates, so it would contain most of the interesting information, but it is hidden from us. All we can do is pick up little clues that can be gleaned from the names, dates and from the other tombstones around the one we are looking at. If there are a cluster of stones all containing the same last name, then we may be able to figure out the family relationships; who was the parent, wh
Post a Comment
Read more

312. Burial Plot!

Matthew 27:62-66 Key Verse: So, they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard." Matthew 27:66 "The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming." Psalm 37:12-13 You have to wonder if, by now, Pilate is beginning to question the sanity of the Jewish leaders themselves. It wasn't enough that they were jealous of this quiet dreamer, Jesus, now they were afraid of His disciples. From Pilate's perspective, this last must have been almost ludicrous.  After all, only one of Jesus' followers had stuck around for the trials and crucifixion. For the most part, as soon as Jesus had been taken, they had all scattered and were probably in hiding. The idea of this rag tag group of unlearned fishermen sticking their necks out now to steal a body and then start a rumor that no one would believe anyway, was ridiculous.
Post a Comment
Read more

46. Tempted By Fame

Deuteronomy 6:16 , Psalm 91 , Matthew 4:5-7 , Luke 4:9-12 Key Verse: Jesus answered: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." Deuteronomy 6:16, Matthew 4:7 & Luke 4:12 Is satan daring Jesus to prove Himself here?  It sure looks like it.  It would appear that satan finds it hard to believe that all powerful Jesus wouldn’t want to resist show off His power just a little.  Could this have been a vulnerability for Jesus?  Is this really a temptation to prove Himself? It would appear here that Satan is offering Jesus a different entrance into ministry.  Jesus wouldn't have to mingle with the rabble.  He could show off for the teachers of the law, the rabbis and the Pharisees.  They would be impressed and he would have their allegiance no matter how the crowd would treat Him.  Instead of compassionate ministry, he could use his power to show off the way the Pharisees like to do, be one of them.  It looks like an easy way to gain acceptance from the people i
Post a Comment
Read more