Jesu Juva
“A Bloody Affair”
Text: Isaiah 62:11 - 63:7
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
The story of Jesus’ Passion is a bloody affair. There is the blood of Jesus shed from the crown of thorns pressed into His head, from the flogging He received from the hands of the soldiers, His blood dripping onto the ground from His body on the cross, and the blood that poured out from His side - with the water - when the soldier’s spear pierced Him to make certain He was dead.
There is also the blood we will remember tomorrow night, the Blood of Jesus given us to drink in the Lord’s Supper.
But there’s more. There’s the blood that must have stained Malchus’ clothes after Peter lopped off his ear. Jesus healed that ear, but the blood on his clothes a silent witness to what had happened. There must have been blood on the soldiers who whipped and beat Jesus and who nailed Him to the cross. His blood that spattered on them. And then when Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body down from the cross - how much blood got on him and his clothes?
And there’s metaphorical blood as well. Jesus’ blood on Judas’ hands and conscience. Pilate, the Roman Governor, washed his hands of Jesus’ blood (Matthew 27:24). And then the cry of the crowd: His blood be on us and on our children (Matthew 27:25)!
The story of Jesus’ Passion is a bloody affair. Some of the blood spilled because of anger, hatred, and bitterness. But some of the blood poured out in love, compassion, and forgiveness. The first is the blood we see so much in our world today - a shooting on a subway, a war in Ukraine, a dispute between friends. The second is the blood we need. The blood of God, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
Isaiah spoke of both kinds of blood tonight. The blood of vengeance, and the blood of redemption. The blood that brings blessing, and the blood that brings recompense. And we see all of it in Jesus.
On the cross, there was the blood of vengeance - the hatred, anger, and bitterness raised against Jesus by the Jewish leaders. But that’s not all of it. That’s not even the half of it, or the tiniest bit of it. Far more crushing was the wrath Jesus bore, the recompense of God, for the sin of the world. For my sin and your sin. He took that vengeance so we wouldn’t have to. And because He did, the blood He shed became the blood of our redemption, the blood that brings blessing and gives life. The blood He gives us in His Supper for the forgiveness of our sins.
That blood is now upon us and our children when we are baptized and His blood washes us clean from our sins. Again, blood of blessing, blood of life. Wonderful blood from a wonderful love.
But there will come a day - when Jesus comes again in glory - and for those not washed in the blood of His life, love, and forgiveness, it will be a day of vengeance, of recompense, of payment. For if Jesus’ blood is not on you and in you for the forgiveness of your sin, then your sin is still on you, and you will have to pay - with your own blood, with your life. But it need not be. The story of Jesus’ Passion is a bloody affair. A bloody affair to save you, that you be called, as Isaiah said, The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord.
Isaiah asked: Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned - bloody - garments from Bozrah? And the Lord answered: It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save. Someone who is bleeding and shedding his blood is usually weak, not mighty. Dying, not saving. But when Jesus shed His blood, when He hung on the cross, He was just that - mighty and saving. Mighty enough to die for you, to save you from your sin. This Lenten season, this Holy Week, and especially the next couple of days are all about that. The story of Jesus’ Passion is a bloody affair. And thank God that it is! His blood crying out to the Father for your forgiveness.
No comments:
Post a Comment