We often think about Jesus’ work in individual lives, but Jesus himself emphasized God’s redeeming work through the church. The New Testament writers called the church Christ’s bride and his body. This week we look at what it means that Jesus bought the church with his own blood, and we’ll do that through the lenses of church as Christ’s treasure, church with Christ’s task, and church in Christ’s timeline.
Redemption means to buy something back or to set it free, usually by paying a price. God is our redeemer, and redemption is his specialty throughout the Bible. The fullest and most beautiful redemption story ever told is given to us when we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. As we focus on the blessings that Nothing but the Blood of Jesus can give to us, today we focus on freedom from sin and shame because by Christ’s blood we have been “redeemed from the empty way of life” handed down to us (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Shortly before his own crucifixion, Jesus went to Mary and Martha after the death of their brother Lazarus. “If only you had been here!” was their greeting. “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” Jesus said, then he took away the power of their “if only” by raising one man: Lazarus. Our lives are still plagued by “if only,” but God has disarmed every “if only” (and much more!) by raising one man – Jesus the Christ – so that all who believe may live forever! Receive the Easter promise of life and victory in Christ alone!
As we continue through Jesus’ I AM claims looking forward to Easter, today we hear him saying, “I AM the Vine.” This claim is not simply about Jesus’ identity, but also our vital relationship with him. We are the branches, he says, and apart from him we can do nothing. Fruitfulness is the goal of our lives, and God is focused on making that happen through pruning us and connecting us to Christ. May we commit ourselves
wholeheartedly to being connected to Christ in order to bear fruit, which Jesus says “is to my Father’s glory.”
On the night Jesus was arrested, he explained what was about to happen and comforted and encouraged the disciples. Into their anguish about not knowing where Jesus was going, Jesus spoke the I AM statement that most illuminated his divine identity and purpose: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” May we see Jesus as more than someone simply pointing out the way, truth and life; may we instead embrace him as the only and complete way, truth and life.