My Blood Of The New Testament

Matthew, Mark, Luke and Paul all fastened their eyes on the Lord’s Supper as they witnessed Jesus speak. The setting was the Passover, and the mood was deeply solemn. Jesus understood the words He spoke, but the apostles did not. Jesus’ soul was sorrowful, even unto death, and in a few hours He would lose much blood by the whip that would scourge his back and lay His bones bare (Psalms 22:16-17). Soon His blood would flow from His hands and feet as the nails held him on that cruel cross. He would be able to see His life flowing onto the ground as He literally poured out his soul unto death (Isaiah 53:12).

Jesus’ will was to do His Father’s will, but His own will cried out for mercy (Luke 22:42). The Father’s answer to His pleading came in the form of an angel to give him more strength to endure the scourge and the cross (Luke 22:43). Jesus shed His blood in answer to His Father’s will, not His own. His blood was testimony to the great love He had for his Father (John 8:28).

But why such a death? His deep humility to allow men to raise Him on the cross caused His Father to love Him far more (John 10:17). His love for His Father and hope of the joy His Father promised caused Him to endure Roman soldiers mutilating His body so the blood of the New Testament could flow (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Probably our greatest hope is to commune with the blood of Christ (I Corinthians 10:16). As we drink of that blood of the New Testament our hearts return to the scourging and the nails that opened the way for His blood to flow down over His body. His blood and His broken heart solemnly announced a love to the world that has never been surpassed. That blood was testimony that we had a new covenant with God!

When we commune with that love, we do so by remembering the blood that was shed for us. We drink deeply as we consider His love for his Father and His willingness to suffer and obey. We draw that love into our own souls when we determine to walk in His steps (I Peter 2:21). The blood of the New Testament was shed so we, with awe and devotion, would long to follow the path of those beautiful feet (Hebrews 12:2-3). We draw a marvelous strength from our time of sharing that gives us power not to faint but to press on. As we commune with the blood of the New Testament, it purges our consciences from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). As we remember our Lord’s offering for us during the Lord’s Supper, we determine to partake of the same suffering He endured (I Peter 4:13). We determine to endure grief even if it means suffering wrongfully because we have done right, just as He did (I Peter 2:20-21). Amen! The blood of the New Testament is full of the nourishment of heaven that will endure forever and ever.

Beth Johnson

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The King James Version.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)