Blood of the New Covenant
Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20
This was a radical statement for Jesus to make. Every one of the disciples and every Hebrew person for that matter, knew what a blood covenant meant. It is not so common to us today, though. A blood covenant was cut between to people or cities as a pact or agreement that each of the participating parties would bring their best into the accord. For example, if there was a city that was rich in produce, they would share their best crops with another city that was rich in natural resources (i.e. water, soil, elements) that they would share in return. This was a covenant in the natural. Many cities that were weak would seek out a covenant with a stronger fortified city as a place of refuge in time of danger/war.
The disciples were familiar with the God covenants. God had made agreements with: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David. The nation of Israel knew about these covenants and celebrated them. They also knew that they were cut in blood. Blood shed is a requirement for a covenant with God. So, when Jesus said His blood was a new covenant, they must have perked up to listen what He was talking about. He briefly explains the new covenant as the remission of sins, or which actually means cancelling a debt owed.
I’m sure the disciples didn’t get it that day, and even after Jesus came back from dying on the cross, they were still focused on Him overturning the Roman government of their day. It wasn’t until the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on them that they realized Jesus died to free them from their bondage of sin not Rome. The greatest gift ever given and the greatest covenant. This is why in the new covenant the commandment is to love one another because you are no longer required to pay the debt of your sin. Jesus brought His best, His life into the covenant in exchange for our best, our love for others.
Today I want to encourage you to consider the new covenant. The covenant with God through the pure and sinless blood of Jesus. His strength in the agreement is His salvation from an eternity of paying the debt of our own sin and being separated from the God Who loves us. Ours is loving and honoring our heavenly Father and all people. If you have never entered into this covenant with God through His Son’s blood, do that today and as soon as possible. Pray this prayer from your heart and Jesus will come into your life and save you and your life will make a radical change in a new and blessed direction, you cannot imagine.
Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me. Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new. I know Your Son, Jesus died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward. I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen
Today’s scripture reading: Luke 22:14-23
14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.
15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
21 But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
23 Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.
The Daily Dose 