I’m Under The Blood

Recently I have been loving and enjoying the music of Maverick City. I love that their music really ushers in a focus on worshiping God. They recently performed their music at the 2022 Grammys and won a Grammy for their album “Old Church Basement”. Maverick City are the first Christian or Gospel artists to perform on the televised Grammys show in 20 years. They are a force in Christian music, not because of their intricate harmonies or virtuoso solos, but because of the deep spirit of worship that their music is bathed in. And they are drawing young people, in particular, to Christ with a new energy, a new sound and a complete devotion to worshiping God. In our study this week (Matthew 26:17-30), Jesus gathered His closest disciples together for what would be His final Passover observance. And, in that space and time, He instituted a new covenant. One that is sealed in His blood and that bridges the relationship between God and His people through forgiveness and grace. I pray that as we are marching toward resurrection Sunday, you would reflect on the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice for you on the cross, and that you would take this opportunity to move away from every impediment keeping you from a full relationship with God.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. (Matt. 26:17-19) Jesus knew that the time for the completion of His mission here on earth was almost at hand. He desired to observe and celebrate His last Passover with His closest disciples. He sent His disciples to make the Passover preparations at a place already divinely determined. Passover was the observance instituted by God for His people to remember His salvation and deliverance of them from bondage and oppression in Egypt. The blood of the lamb that they were to cover their doorposts with, marked them to be saved (passed over) from death on the eve of God deliverance. It was the blood then…and it’s still the blood that saves and delivers us!

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.” (Matt. 26:20-25). Evening officially marked the beginning of the day the Passover was to be observed. As Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples in a relaxed atmosphere, He suddenly dropped a bombshell on them. His death would be associated with a betrayal by one of them. He let them know that His mission would be accomplished regardless, but there were extreme consequences for not having faith in Jesus and parting ways with Him. It is interesting to note that the text doesn’t say that the disciples focused on one another to determine who the betrayer was. The disciples began to individually ask Jesus, “Is it I?”, (i.e. am I the one who betrayed you?). That’s instructive to us. We too must account for ourselves in our relationship with Jesus. Judas was the betrayer, and yet he refused to acknowledge his sin. He feigned innocence in his question to Jesus. But God knows all, and while Judas may have been able to hide his betrayal from the other disciples, Jesus knew what Judas had done. “Lord is it I? Have I failed to put my faith in you and have I separated from you to go my own way?”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matt. 26:26-30). After His revelation to His disciples, Jesus made a departure from the traditional Passover observance. He blessed the bread, broke it and gave it to His disciples as a symbol of His body which would be broken for us. Then He took a cup of wine, gave thanks and told them that His blood would be shed in a new covenant to forgive the sins of many. This new covenant is what we know as the covenant of grace. We are saved from the condemnation of our sins by the covenant of grace we have with God through our faith in Jesus. When I partake in communion, I remember that I once was lost… But Jesus died upon a cross and I know It was His blood that saved me!

Jesus announced a new covenant on that transformative night in the upper room. It was and is a covenant that is available to everyone. It is a covenant that was activated and made binding by the shed blood of Jesus. And through our faith in Jesus we have access to forgiveness of our sins and full relationship with God the Father. Like those who put the blood of the lamb over their door frame and were allowed to live (under God’s divine protection), we are delivered from bondage (to sin) and saved from death (given eternal life) by Jesus’ blood.

• So, I can say to sin and shame, “if you’re looking for me, you can’t condemn me anymore”;

• I can say to the pain of my past and to the haters who call out my faults, “if you’re looking for me, you don’t hold power over me anymore ”;

• I can say to fear and anxiety, “if you’re looking for me you can’t paralyze me and keep me from my destiny anymore”;

I’m living in a place where none of those things have dominion over me. I’m living in a place that is safe and secure. Because I’m living my life now…under the blood of Jesus!

Blessings,

Rev. Glenn

Listen to Maverick City singing “Old Church Basement” and singing “The Blood Is Still The Blood (Reprise)”