We are all called into the new covenant with God through the blood shed by Christ who was our mediator. All of this sounds so profoundly impressive and of big words but it is very simple really.
On this Monday of the Holy Week I remember an 8th grader in confirmation class I taught many years ago. The topic of that day was Communion. Bread and Wine/grape juice being the symbol of the forgiving/unconditional love of God for us. Some of them just could not understand it. They asked "why?" and "how" one too many times.
Katie finally got fed up with their questions and my attempt to explain and said, "OK guys, every time we take communion in the Church we are eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking HIS blood. Just think of it literally. I do. I am eating and drinking Jesus because God can't find any thing else to feed my spiritual life that is good enough for me. How can I be bad after eating and drinking out of God's own SON. OK? Get it? But I know that's not literally true but it is what it is. Jesus died for me and for you, every one of us so we might be reconnected with God. Who does not want to be reconnected with God?" No one answered to Katie's question. So, she said, " Who wants to be reconnected with God and stay connected with God for life?" All the rest of them said, "Me or I". Then Katie said, " There you go. That's it?" So that was that! who would have thought an 8th grader gets it and can explain it so well.
Of course there is a deeper way of unpacking or teaching of the mystery of our redemption theology. But that was good enough for me in that context and even now. Just like Katie said, we need God. We can not be alienated from God. He loves us and we need His love, forgiveness and grace every moment of every day. So, let us give thanks to God for willing to send His only begotten son to be our mediator.
Prayer: Great and loving God, thank you for Jesus your son who is our mediator. Help us to live as those forgiven and loved by you. Teach us to be faithful disciples of yours. I Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Hebrew 9:11-15
11 But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), 12he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!
15 For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.
Also: Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 36:5-11, John 12:1-11
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