Today, thank God for the shed blood of Jesus, that ushered in a new relationship between God and sinners:

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.”

Matthew 26:27-28Matthew 26:27-28
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
27 Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and drink it. ²⁸ a ; b This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven.

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And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is my blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and his people.”

Mark 14:23-24Mark 14:23-24
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
23 Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He gave it to his disciples, and they all drank some. ²⁴ a ; b Then he said, “This is my blood, which is poured out for many people, and with it God makes his agreement.

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After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you – an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.”

Luke 22:20Luke 22:20
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
20 After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, “This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement.

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Many were amazed when they saw him – beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person.* In a world sanitized of violence and blood – hating to be reminded of all it signifies – the cup that carried the wine reminds us of the punishment our savior endured. God in the flesh, the true image of God, man as God intended him to be, was marred beyond recognition. Do you see the poetry, the irony in it? That Satan could not stand to see God reflected in the man Jesus? That his every intention to destroy that image resulted in God’s complete victory over sin?

I recently read a book on Communion where the author declared her belief that we focus too much on the blood, too much on the sacrifice, too much on the payment for sin in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Quite to the contrary, I left that work more aware of how important it is to take Jesus’ words to heart. He recognized the importance of his blood! It was costly. He received more than just an unjust beating; he was deprived of justice and experienced the humiliation of a criminal’s death at the hands of a violent and unyielding people: He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized  that he was dying for their sins – that he was suffering their punishment?*

Jesus offers the cup to remind us – his followers – that he willingly died to ratify the new relationship between us and God. He bore the penalty for us, so that we could stand in the presence of a holy God. And not just stand; we can bow, worship, praise – all without fear of rejection or condemnation. We are his inheritance, his reward. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.*

Rejoice! Jesus has redeemed us! Now let us walk in the righteousness we have been given. Let us honor the sacrifice and the price Jesus’ paid by giving our lives in return. This is his call to discipleship; it is not a lighthearted and effortless faith, rather a total physical and spiritual response to the great gift of God.

* Isaiah 52:14; 53:7-8, 10-12Isaiah 52:14; 53:7-8, 10-12
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
14 Many were horrified at what happened to him. b him: One ancient translation; Hebrew “you.” But everyone who saw him was even more horrified because he suffered until he no longer looked human. c human: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse ¹⁴. ⁷ . . He was painfully abused, but he did not complain. He was silent like a lamb being led to the butcher, as quiet as a sheep having its wool cut off. ⁸ He was condemned to death without a fair trial. Who could have imagined what would happen to him? His life was taken away because of the sinful things my people f my people: Or “his people.” had done. ¹⁰ The Lord decided his servant would suffer as a sacrifice to take away the sin and guilt of others. Now the servant will live to see his own descendants. h The Lord... descendants: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. He did everything the Lord had planned. ¹¹ By suffering, the servant will learn the true meaning of obeying the Lord. Although he is innocent, he will take the punishment for the sins of others, so that many of them will no longer be guilty. ¹² The Lord will reward him with honor and power for sacrificing his life. Others thought he was a sinner, but he suffered for our sins and asked God to forgive us.

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