2) Life-Giving Blood of Easter
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"
Hebrews 12:2.
Recently, I cheerfully, willingly, readily, and matter-of-factly volunteered for my regular privilege to donate a precious gift—my blood—to someone I will most likely never know.
As I watched that rich, brownish-red, life sustaining substance flow, it immediately served as an object lesson, reminding me of that which flowed from Emmanuel's veins! Fully aware of the process before me, a harmless prick, not a nail, thorns, or spear punctured me, as what happened to my Lord.
After being welcomed and thanked for my donation, I lay comfortable and relaxed as I was treated with care, concern, and dignity. Our Lord Jesus, however, was neither welcomed, nor thanked for his blood. Yet, he was meeting the reason he was born, and for what he had been prepared to accomplish. He was fully aware of what was ahead of him. He knew from the very beginning of time the perfect plan of his Father
God, that he would give his very life, shedding his innocent blood for my sins, your sins, indeed the sins of the whole world.
“Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display’” John 12: 27-28.
That prayer was miraculously answered by God the Father when he raised Jesus from the dead. But not before Jesus' gruesome encounter. That enormous burden was laid upon him. He willingly bore it because of his great love for us, and obedience to our Father! What love, what sacrifice! He was not pampered for his task. No one offered him a cold drink of Deer Park, Perrier,
Dasani, or cranberry juice! Instead, Jesus, beloved Son of the Living God, The Holy One, met his volunteer task exhausted and in great physical, emotional, and spiritual agony. He had experienced a traumatic and sleepless night—hunger, thirst, betrayal, loneliness, beatings, mocking, disrespect, and humiliation—nevertheless, because of His love for the whole world, namely for you and me, he endured the cross. His unfailing love
for us bore ridicule, scorn, hate, torture, humiliation, and death by the most tortuous
means: crucifixion, reserved for criminals.
Thoughts of Jesus' blood moved me to thanksgiving, praise, and passionate prayer for those who desperately
need a Savior. The high price has been paid. All that is needed now is to acknowledge and admit our need, believing and receiving THE GIFT that fits EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE the
entire human family. Then living for and loving The Greatest GIFT of all time, JESUS, MASTER, LORD, REDEEMER, COUNSELOR, HEALER, COMFORTER, MESSIAH, KING!
Numbers 6:24-26
Copyright 2017 Penelope White
