May 1 Made One in Jesus’ Blood

Ephesians 2:11-13 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands – 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
 
WE can think of many ways we can be near someone. We can text, call, email, go to, welcome in, sit down with, talk with, celebrate with, and even cry with. We have a basic need to discover what we have in common with new people we meet. Made in the image of a relational God, mankind has an innate need to be with one another in some common bond.
    One of the greatest bonds, as I understand it, can come with those who have been to war together. They are trained to protect each other. “Blood brothers” is a common term for men who have fought and strived together in war’s deadly onslaught.
    This “blood brothers” war image is one way we can describe what it is to be one in Jesus’ blood. Waging war against the Evil One, Jesus volunteered to go at the Father’s command to bleed out on the cross. This was the Father’s plan in our Lord’s final battle on earth against Satan and his evil soldiers. The Lord of Heaven’s armies stood firm as “He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) David prophesied Jesus’ bloodletting this way: Psalms 22:14 “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast.”
    These are grim reminders of the awful suffering Jesus endured for his own creation. But then we see the reason for his bleeding. See our resurrected Lord say this to Mary Magdalene in the garden of his resurrection: John 20:17 “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers.” 
    Do you hear? The Savior, the Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings, who was wounded and brutalized for your sins said, “my brothers” and “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” By Jesus’ blood, we are wondrously drawn into a deep, personal oneness with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the Father’s plan, in the Son’s sacrifice, in the Spirit’s power, we can call Jesus, “Brother.” We can be one with Jesus, near him for eternity as his “blood sister” and “blood brother” because he has fought and died for us.
    Now, a Jesus has died for you, will you draw near to him?
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that I can be one with you because your blood poured out for me on the cross. In your precious, saving blood I rejoice, amen.