JESUS TO THE RESCUE
Romans 3:10-22
Vv. 9-18
“...We already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who is good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.’”
Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday are two book ends that define Jesus’ Passion Week. (See Visiting King devotion). Both events represent victories, cheered by the masses. Jesus’ victory is our rescue from sin—which is death. Passion Week shows Jesus’ love for God’s children through His suffering and death on the cross. Jesus’ Passion is rescuing us from eternal death.
Maundy Thursday is Jesus’ “Last Supper.” It is fitting that the date overlaps Passover. Passover is when a lamb is prepared for a Jewish family to eat while wearing travel clothes. Whatever is not consumed must be burnt up. No yeast (representing sin) is used in baking the bread. This is their Feast of Unleavened Bread, remembering when God rescued them out of Egypt (Exodus 12:17, Matthew 26:17). The lamb’s blood is smeared on the top and sides of the door, in obedience to God. When the angel of the Lord sees the blood, he passes over the house, and everybody remains safe.
Not so with Pharaoh’s palace in Egypt thousands of years ago. His son died that night because there was no blood on the palace door posts. Jesus arranged this night for His last meal with His disciples before His death. The disciples were confused when Jesus talked about the bread being His body, and the wine being His blood for forgiveness of sins during the meal (Matthew 26:26-29). Later, they understood what it meant. Their Lord died in order that they could have eternal life.
This first Holy Communion—served by Jesus Himself—is a new covenant (KOV-en-ant means contract agreement) between God and His children for forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:27). Holy Communion is repeated for believers to remember Jesus’ rescuing us from eternal death. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 lays it all out for us: "Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has beeen sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth."
Take Home Nugget
The Bible is a book of blood rescue. The opening Scripture points out that no one deserves God’s mercy. The Good News of the gospel is that Jesus rescues whoever accepts His gift of salvation.
Thank You, Jesus, for rescuing me from eternal death when I invite you into my life as Lord and Savior. AMEN
J.D. Griffith
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