The Blood of Christ - He Justly Justifies The Unjust

"When I see the blood, I will pass over you."
Exodus 12:13

s

a

The Blood of Christ

a

a

"But one of the soldiers struck his spear into Jesus side, and at once blood and water came out" (John 19:34). Even a casual student of scripture notes the connection between blood and mercy. As far back as the son of Adam, worshipers knew "Sins cannot be forgiven without blood" (Hebrews 9:22) . . . . With a field as his temple and the ground as his altar, Abel became the first to do what millions would imitate, He offered a blood sacrifice for sin . . . .

a

Those who followed suit for a long line: Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Samson, Saul, David . . . But the line ended at the cross. What Abel sought to accomplish in the field, God achieved with his Son. What Abel began, Christ completed . . . .

a

What needed to be paid was paid. What had to be done was done. Innocent blood was required. Innocent blood was offered, once and for all time . . . .

a

As a result of "being saved" (the work of the blood), what do we do? We obey God "with deep reverence" and shrink back "from all that might displease him" (Philippians 3:12-13). From He Chose The Nails by Max Lucado)

a

a

C

He Justly Justifies The Unjust

C

s

THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSES "Take care of the animals until the fourteenth day of the month. On that day all the people of the community of Israel will kill them in the evening before dark. The people must take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. On this night they must roast the lamb over the fire. They must eat it with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. Do not east the lamb raw or boiled in water. Roast the whole lamb over the fire--with its head, legs and inner organs. You must not leave any of it until morning, but if any of it is left over until morning, you must burn it with fire." Exodus 12:6-10

s

SITUATION In this passage nine of the ten plagues in Egypt had already occurred. Pharaoh, despite the pleading of Moses, refused to give in. God told the Israelites to prepare the Passover, which would protect his people from the final plague.

s

THE FINAL PLAGUE "When the Lord goes through Egypt to kill the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the sides and tops of the door frames, and he will pass over that house. He will not let the one who brings death come into your houses and kill you (Exodus 12: 23)."

OBSERVATION God did not protect the Israelites because they were better than the Egyptians, but because they were his people. God gives grace to his followers -- whether through the blood of a lamb or the blood of the Lamb, Jesus --not based on merit but on his loving kindness.

INSPIRATION "God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself . . . . Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God." (2 Corinthians 5:19,20).

The perfect record of Jesus was given to you, and your imperfect record was given to Christ. Jesus was "not guilty, but he suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18). As a result, God's holiness is honored and his children are forgiven.

By his perfect life Jesus fulfilled the commands of the law. By his death he satisfied the demands of sin. Jesus suffered not like a sinner, but as a sinner. Why else would he cry, "My God, my God, why have you rejected me" (Matthew 27:46).

Ponder the achievement of God. He doesn't condone our sin; nor does he compromise his standard. He doesn't ignore our rebellion; nor does he relax his demands. Rather than dismiss our sin he assumes our sin and, incredibly, sentences himself. God's holiness is honored. Our sin is punished. And we are redeemed. God is still God. The wages of sin is still death. And we are made perfect.

.

That's right perfect. "With one sacrifice he made perfect forever those who are being made holy" (Hebrews 10:14).

.

God justifies (makes perfect) than sanctifies (makes holy). God does what we cannot do so we can be what we dare not dream, perfect before God. He justly justifies the unjust. (From In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado)

s

.

APPLICATION God has given grace to you--an unconditional gift. Receive it and accept it Look for opportunities to be "graceful" to those around you.

EXPLORATION Grace -- Exodus 33:19; Proverbs 3:34; Romans 2:23-24; 5:15-17; Ephesians 2:8.

The Devotional Bible - Experiencing The Heart of Jesus, Max Lucado General Editor, New Century Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers