When Paul is preparing to leave the elders in Ephesus he encourages them saying,
“28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
We find that gem in Acts 20.
Isn’t that spectacular? Take another look at what Paul says, “…to care for the church of God, which he obtained WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.”
God has blood? YES! Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus is 100% God who took on blood filled flesh in order to show the extent of His love and mercy to the world by spilling the blood running through those 100% human veins.
Sometimes we’re tempted to divert our faith away from the true God who comes to us with that flesh and blood. We’re tempted to turn to some abstract imaginary force somewhere in the universe that does things from time to time. This is exactly what Luke combats in His account of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke points us not to some abstract concept in our brains, but to the true God who took on blood so that he could pour out that blood in order to save the body and soul of all humanity.
I’ve liked this passage for a while, but over the past months it has become a favorite. I keep finding myself drawn to it in conversations and in opportunities to relay Jesus to others. Luke doesn’t point us to the apostles or to ourselves for hope and peace, but to the crucified Christ who reveals God’s steadfast love and mercy through the shedding of His blood.
Our hope is not that there might be a god somewhere who will help us in this life if we do enough good. No! Our hope is sure and certain as it rests in the one true God who sent His Son to save the world.
That sure and certain hope is yours as well! The blood Christ spilled for all people was spilled for you too. You were owned by death. Death was your master. But Christ pays the price with his blood in order to buy you back from death.
He obtained you from death through His death and now He is risen, still reigning at the right hand of the Father and we look forward to that final day when He returns in glory and we are raised from the dead to see the eternal results of His bloodied transaction on our behalf.
Latest posts by Merritt Demski (see all)
- God’s Own Blood - February 1, 2019
Comments
Great thoughts. Watching you guys and on Vimeo Capofaith crowd…good to know theology and doctrine consistent with LCMS on social media. A great help as I transition my family to confessional Lutheranism. Sadly, Pastor, Dr, Richard’s was right…2 to 3 year process…most of it is spent convincing spouse and children. Thank you guys for your efforts keep it up!