Reflecting on Mark 14:12-26
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many." (Mark 14:24)The phrase “blood of the covenant” is from Exodus 24.
God brings the people to the base of Mount Sinai.
He enters into a marriage-like relationship with the people.
There were two kinds of sacrifices offered at that time.
There was the burnt offering and the fellowship offering.
The sacrificed animals represented God and the people.
The burnt offering pointed to God’s sacrifice of atonement.
The people were not atoning for themselves.
God was declaring their sins were covered, sprinkled with grace.
The blood did not pay for forgiveness, it pointed to forgiveness.
The fellowship offering celebrated their restored relationship.
They expressed thanksgiving, worship and fellowship with God and community.
They involved eating and drinking in God’s presence (Exodus 24:11).
The Book of the Covenant was read, describing their commitments (Exodus 24:7).
God’s vows to the people, and the peoples’ vows to God.
They were married, each belonging to the other.
When Jesus speaks of His “blood of the covenant”, He refers to both sides.
He represents God’s sacrifice of love to cover for our sin.
He represents our response of gratitude and celebration, for God’s grace.
He is offering us a new relationship, a marriage-like relationship.
Each devoted to the other, each loving the other.
It is not God’s wrath that is satisfied by Jesus’s death (blood).
It is God’s love that is expressed through Jesus’s death.
God comes to us, endures and absorbs our human weakness and depravity.
It is the price or cost of love, but not a debt payment.
Think of the cost of parental love; it is not a contractual exchange.
It is not an ‘if-then’ sacrifice, conditional on our goodness.
Imagine a parent keeping tabs on each meal offered to their child.
Does a parent present a bill to their child when they grow up?
‘This is how much you cost me, how much you owe me!?!?’
No, this is not love, this is an impersonal contract.
When we celebrate communion, we are experiencing and expressing love.
God expresses His love for us, and we express our love for God.
We celebrate, give thanks, worship and fellowship with God in Jesus.
There is no guilt in this meal, only grace.
The ancient gods demanded blood sacrifice as a payment.
Sometimes animals, sometimes children, always a price to be paid.
Israel did not offer blood sacrifices as a payment.
Their sacrifices portray God’s sacrifice of love, a Father’s love!
God was not a monster demanding blood (payment).
God was and is a Father giving blood (love, life) freely, graciously.
Some versions of the evangelical gospel sound more like the ancient gods.
A price must be paid, God cannot forgive unless there’s enough blood.
Since we can’t, God gives us the human blood we need (Jesus) to pay the price.
Only when enough human blood (good enough) is paid, then God forgive!?
This is not how I see the blood of Jesus.
I see it as God’s forgiveness freely offered, not earned by Jesus for us.
Forgiveness comes first (grace), not a payment or price we need to bring.
Like with parents, love and sacrifice are freely offered, not earned or purchased.
Do you receive God’s love and express your love through communion?
Jesus welcomes us at the table because God loves us… period.
We are sprinkled/covered by His love, and welcomed by His grace.
“They saw God, and they ate and drank.” (Exodus 24:11)
In Jesus, we see God, and we eat and drink too!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, God is not a monster demanding blood payment. God is a Father, offering love without payment. I celebrate Your sacrifice of love as God's sacrifice of love. I may sit with You at the table, even though I fall short, and do not love like You love. Grace, grace, grace... it is all grace!