Saturday, March 16, 2013
Revelation 1:5-6 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
THEN!
To shed someone's blood means to kill them, and to have your own blood shed is to die. When Jesus said, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins," he was not talking about a cut on His finger, etc., but about dying for the sins of the world. His blood has freed us from our sins and has given us royal status besides. Now we can serve his God and Father -- call Him "Our Father" -- and know that He will hear our prayers and everything will work together for our good. Could a king's command accomplish anything better?
Truly His blood has given us a royal robe and will make us to stand with Him in the heavenly places, richly clad in His righteousness, warmly received by "our Lord Jesus ... with all his holy ones," (1 Thessalonians 3:13) and richly blessed to all eternity! This will be a greater joy than standing by His manger, for there our sinful human nature still clung to us to sap some of the joy, but then ... !
And when Thy glory I shall see
And taste Thy kingdom's pleasure,
Thy blood my royal robe shall be,
My joy beyond all measure.
When I appear before Thy throne,
Thy righteousness shall be my crown,--
With these I need not hide me.
And there, in garments richly wrought
As Thine own bride, I shall be brought
To stand in joy beside Thee.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 142:6)
