Tuesday, March 20, 2018
1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST
Sometimes the word "precious" seems to be old-fashioned and little used today--a word for romantic poetry and grandmothers gushing about grandchildren. And then the news comes on radio or TV and they report on the market for precious metals, how precious health is where an epidemic rages, and remind us that the water we take for granted is a precious commodity for many on this planet. The announcer may go on to encourage the public to respond to a call from the Red Cross for people to donate the precious gift of blood. There may even be a special request for a more rare blood type--or one with antibodies that make it especially precious.
How precious would a blood type be that didn't just enable the one receiving it to fight off a particular disease, but actually gave a person immunity to death? What if it turned out that while this blood came from only one person, through some miracle of science it was available to everyone? That would be breaking news. News repeated again and again in every nation, in every language possible. If you knew of someone who hadn't heard, wouldn't you personally make a point to inform them?
If you have read this far, you likely know exactly where the thoughts presented here are going. The blood of Jesus is like no other. What could be more rare than the blood of the only Person who is both human and divine, both God and man? He lived a perfect life of love in the place of all of us sinners. He gave His blood, not by transfusion on a sterile gurney but by sacrifice on a cross of cruel wood. With His blood Christ became the atoning sacrifice for every sinner ever. By the miracle of faith, a miracle of God, His blood is available to everyone. His blood results in life eternal for all who through faith receive it--that is, put their confidence in the sacrifice for sin that He made.
Do you know anyone who hasn't heard this news?
