The meat section of my grocery store is clean and pleasant. Festive music plays as I select refrigerated trays of pork, beef, and chicken. Each package is shrink-wrapped in clear plastic, with only an occasional smudge of blood. But no matter how much the store tries to conceal it, its meat section is built on death.
The same is true of Christian worship. We gather in pleasant buildings to worship God with joyful songs. And it’s okay to be in clean surroundings and sing music that reflects our joy in Jesus. But we can forget that even our worship is built on death. Our praise is only possible because of the death of our Savior.
Every Old Testament Israelite would have known this immediately. No one could worship God without sacrificing a lamb, goat, calf, bull, or bird (Exodus 24:4-8). The temple priests would begin and end each day by killing a lamb, plus two more on the Sabbath. More would be sacrificed by those who came to confess their sin. During Passover in Jesus’ day, thousands of lambs would have been sacrificed at the temple in just a few hours. Imagine the bleating and the blood! The worship truly ran red.
We no longer sacrifice lambs because the Lamb of God has been sacrificed once for all. To ritually kill an animal today would be to deny that Jesus has come. But our worship is no less built on blood. Jesus “has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice” (Hebrews 9:26).
We gather together and sing because Jesus’ death has made us clean. So we join the praise of heaven: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered” (Revelation 5:12), for His “blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 23:1-39
More:
Read Exodus 12:1-13 to learn how Old Testament sacrifices pointed ahead to the salvation Jesus brought.
Next:
What does the cost of your salvation mean to you? What can you do to better remember it?
Gary Shultz on September 6, 2016 at 6:19 am
Stepping up to the plate Mike. I must admit I really don’t like the thoughts of Christ’s death. I am really glad it is over and the sacrifice of Christ was enough. No, I’ve cleaned many an animal, fish and bird, but death was a reminder to us of what we should have experienced; and there was blood. Blood the testimony of death, Christ’s blood evidenced the death payment for sin, all sin, and I am accepted because of that testimony. The gruesome has become the evidence of a love payment Christ wanted to make for us. Life for life, one amazing life for all, only could God have made this right, only could He have paid and corrected the deadly fault made by sin. I think we often forget the massive offense sin is to God and the enormous price He had to pay. How can we stand before such love, at such a price? Thanks Mike
Mike Wittmer on September 6, 2016 at 9:32 am
Well said, Gary. I hate to think about this, but it does fill me with gratitude. It makes be appreciate more the words of 1 Peter 1:18-19: “God paid a ransom to save you from the impossible road to heaven which your fathers tried to take, and the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver as you very well know. But he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”
Tom Felten on September 6, 2016 at 8:29 am
Mike, praising with you today the Lamb who was slain that we might be saved. “Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28). Once for all!!
sandy229 on September 6, 2016 at 9:49 am
I’m glad we don’t have to kill lambs. That would really be hard to do. Praise God for the lamb who was slain so we might be saved. Even though I don’t deserve it, Christ died for me because God loved me so much. Hebrews 9:28 “so Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him”. I am eagerly waiting for His return. What a glorious day that will be!! Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
godlove on September 6, 2016 at 10:37 am
Thanks for this devotional today Mike. I know there are a number of Christian denominations who pray covering stuff with the blood of Jesus. This has always raised questions on my mind and I haven’t yet been able to find a Biblical backing to this. I really do wonder whether it is actually right for Christians to pray to God using the blood of Christ in such terms. Does anyone else here know or approve of this practice and can I have some explanation about it?
gagirllive on September 6, 2016 at 4:40 pm
Hi, godlove…and welcome back! You’ve been missed. I’m coming late to the table today, so I’ll just address your question, if you don’t mind. I’ve always been curious about that too, my friend. As far as I am able to discern, I’m of the humble opinion that “pleading the blood” of Jesus has no biblical basis whatsoever. Jesus did not instruct us to pray this way, and there is no example of any of the apostles praying this way. I think this was born out of the Word of Faith movement where faith is viewed as a force in itself to manipulate God into doing our will instead of His. Of course, this is impossible, but sadly many people do believe this way. When they pray “pleading the blood of Jesus” over a situation they are believing that there is supernatural power in using those words which will produce their desired outcome. (Sounds like mysticism to me.) The truth is that all who are born again are already under the blood of Christ; therefore we do not need to “plead the blood” over our lives or circumstances. We are freed from the penalty and dominion of sin over us by His blood, and His atoning sacrifice keeps us covered forever. Our enemy has become a defeated foe because of our Great High Priest and Intercessor. Praise God! My favorite hymn says, “Before the throne of God above—I have a strong and perfect plea—a Great High Priest whose name is Love—whoever lives and pleads for me!” From what I can see, godlove, all the pleading is from Jesus Christ our Redeemer, Mediator, and Intercessor. Hallelujah! I hope this helps, dear brother.
sandy229 on September 6, 2016 at 5:13 pm
GAgirl, I really do hope you are not in any danger from the recent reports of flooding and hurricanes. 🙂
Shalom
gagirllive on September 6, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Safe and sound, friend. Thank you for caring. 🙂
sandy229 on September 6, 2016 at 5:23 pm
You’re welcome!! 🙂
godlove on September 7, 2016 at 3:33 am
Thanks for your response, gagirl. You have clarified it a lot for me. I would have liked to read the viewpoint of someone who approves of it as well but your reply is quite complete. I’m happy because you have confirmed my doubts about it and I totally agree with you on this issue, all the pleading is indeed from Jesus. Praise God! Be blessed, dear sister.
And oh, I haven’t been very far away, I try to read daily, it’s just been a little bit difficult to post lately. But I’m usually around 🙂
johnswanson on September 6, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. – Romans 5:18-19 NIV
minkjh on September 6, 2016 at 1:51 pm
Thanks, Mike, for sharing the story we should never grow tired of hearing. God gave us a glimpse early on in the Garden of future blood sacrifice when he replaced the futile human covering of our parents’ shame with the skins of slain animals. I’m always reminded of the cost I paid in the work of atonement versus that of Christ by the words from an old familiar hymn- ‘Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling.’ Hallelujah! What a Savior!
hsnpoor on September 7, 2016 at 11:25 am
Wow! This was an amazingly impactful devotion (that I’m a bit late getting too) and the comments today are just as illuminating and insightful. godlove, thank you for raising your concern. It’s one I’m sure many who read this site have either practiced or worried about the practice, yet never articulated the inquiry. GG, your response was inspired and heaven-sent! I’m going to have to set apart a Gary & a GG page in my journal. Your statement: “I think this was born out of the Word of Faith movement where faith is viewed as a force in itself to manipulate God into doing our will instead of His”, is right on the money! I’ve never heard it expressed in exactly that manner, but that is exactly it and it cuts right to the chase. Thank you! johnswanson, your connection to Romans 5:18-19 surprised me and gladdened my heart, with it’s on-point addition to the conversation. I’m so sorry I was late to this party, but it was a banner day all around and I have truly been blessed by one and all who contributed to this days devotion. Thank you ALL for sharing!
gagirllive on September 7, 2016 at 1:30 pm
You know, Kim, there are a lot of people who probably use this phraseology with the best of intentions, not really knowing how unnecessary and even unbiblical it is. I can recall several things that I practiced ignorantly but in good faith before learning the truth of the matter. Praise God for bringing us into a progressive understanding of His word! There is a lot of false teaching out there, but once you know the truth you have to decide if you’re going to obey it. Good intentions won’t fly. My response to godlove was not meant to be judgemental of those who do this or to convey the impression that I have it all figured out. God knows I don’t! (And I’m not saying that’s what I got from your comment. ..I’m just saying.) It’s great to encourage one another in the Truth. I want to do that for others. I NEED others to do that for me. A big thanks goes out to you and everyone else on this forum for meeting that need in my life. Blessings, GF. 🙂
hsnpoor on September 7, 2016 at 8:23 pm
Awww…how do you do those smiley face things???
gagirllive on September 7, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Um, colon mark and right parenthesis… LOL
hsnpoor on September 8, 2016 at 11:55 am
I’ve done that, but it shows up as a colon & right parenthesis symbol; yours comes out as an actual smiley face. I’m stumped…and jealous…:)
sandy229 on September 8, 2016 at 12:08 pm
After you post it, it will come out how you want it to. 🙂
sandy229 on September 8, 2016 at 12:09 pm
make sure there is a space between the dots and the 🙂 not …..:)