Preparing for the Lord's Day
Jesus is Better
The sight of blood makes some people queasy. A couple I know had to have a blood test prior to being married. They were both a little underweight and were both sensitive to the sight of blood. You can imagine the scene in the lab when both had to give a blood sample. First, the young lady began to faint as she saw the blood drawn from her future husband. And then he went out. Once they came to, they had to take the future bride’s blood. Again, both fainted. I hope that none of their children ever deals with chronic nose bleeds.
Blood can be a rather disturbing sight. It means that something is wrong. It is supposed to stay inside the body. If not, it means that someone has been wounded or even killed. Nevertheless, blood plays a central role in Biblical Christianity. Under the Old Covenant, the blood of animal sacrifices was offered for the cleansing of sin. In the New Covenant, the blood of animal sacrifices is replaced by the blood of Jesus Christ. He offered his own blood for the forgiveness of sins.
However, there are many who object to the bloody nature of Christianity. The idea that Jesus Christ offered himself as a sacrifice seems to offend our modern sensibilities. John Shelby Spong in his book, Why Christianity Must Change or Die, says, “I would choose to loathe rather than worship a deity who required the sacrifice of his son.” Yet it is this very sacrifice that stands at the center of biblical religion. For the blood of Jesus is the only power that we have toward salvation. To abandon the blood of Christ is to abandon the life of Christ. In our passage for this Sunday, the word blood appears four times. And what it is teaching us is that the superiority of the New Covenant lies in the power of the blood of Christ. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Hebrews 9:11- 14, Isaiah 1:18, John 6:38-39, Acts 20:28, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 1:18-19, and this article on the extent of the atonement.
As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s Day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “How Great Thou Art!” the Acclamation of Praise “Nothing But the Blood,” and the Hymn of Response “There is a Fountain Filled With Blood.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information
Text: Hebrews 9:11-14
Title: Power in the Blood
Outline
- You Must Know the Value of Christ’s Sacrifice
- You Must Know the Power of Christ’s Sacrifice
- You Must Know the Purpose of Christ’s Sacrifice