At first glance we sometimes get the impression that the God of the Old Testament is an angry God, and then Jesus shows up in the New Testament to provide a much kinder and gentler face of God. A closer reading shows an unchanging God whose wrath remains real against whatever seeks to destroy his kingdom and his people, and who also generously showers love and grace on his flawed people through Jesus. Propitiation by the blood of Jesus makes that possible for us. If propitiation is a new word for you, be sure to join us this week!
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!