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Christ’s Blood – Do You (Do I) Really Get It?
I have to admit, when I first read this verse, I was like…yea, yea, I get it – Christ died for my sins so I can be forgiven and have eternal life. What could be more obvious…sooooo, how can I expound on this for the 340 words I have left to finish my assigned devotional? But then my thoughts were stopped…I was humbled by the next questions that came to my mind…my heart: Why am I not BLOWN AWAY by the significance of this verse…the eternal significance of this reality in my life? How can I read this verse with a yawn…after what Christ did for ME…for those I love?
So with that I began to read more, to pray, to think…and rather than come up with complete answers, I really came up with more questions, like:
Am I just a spiritual dolt who just doesn’t get the real significance of this verse…or am I just a spoiled product of living in the buckle of the Bible belt all my life – just taking for granted the gift Christ gave me by shedding his blood?
What’s the greater context for this verse…what’s going on in the rest of the story?
What law is the author talking about? Oh, and who wrote Hebrews anyway?
The verse says something about “nearly everything be cleansed with blood”…well, what wasn’t required to be cleansed?
What’s really the significance of blood…why not water?
So if there isn’t any blood, we’re not cleansed…and if we’re not cleansed, we’re not forgiven…so what’s that really look like?
Assuming you responded the same way I did when you first read this verse, I can’t answer the first question for you, you’ll have to work through that one on your own. But for me, I think it’s a combination of things, including: apathy, ignorance, or perhaps just the funk that’s in my heart right now. For the other questions, I challenge you to find out for yourselves – you’ll undoubtedly find that more life-changing. Here are some places you can start: Hebrews 9; Leviticus 5:11-13; Leviticus 17:11; Exodus 24:6-8; Romans 3:23-24; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:17-19; Revelations 5:9; Revelations 20:11-15.
I guarantee that after looking closer at this verse you’ll have a greater appreciation for its meaning – I know I did…and now I just pray that its significance bears itself out in my life in a way that glorifies God.
Me too…why am I not blown away by this EVERY time I read this? How can one not be when they think of the our Lord shed his own blood for the world. That his scourged back, chest, arms & legs and his thorn encircled brow dripped blood..FOR ME…so I might be His own, baptized into His death, forgiven, and promised the eternal life with Him. Ok, I’m getting excited writing this actually…and thinking of the scene in The Passion is “helping”. I guess the key is keeping this ever before you and meditating on it? Wow, I need to stop writing and get some one on one time with the Lord and thanks Him for what He’s done! Thanks Doug for putting the question before us all!!