October 17 | Hebrews 9:15-22 & Romans 3:24-25

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DAILY READING

Hebrews 9:15-22

Romans 3:24-25

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REFLECTION

Blood is Life

By Jennifer Jerrome

Reading today’s scriptures, my brain went in a million directions:

·       Covenant

·       Inheritance

·       Death

·       Will

·       Sacrifice

·       Atonement

How was I going to tie these all together?

I think the key here is blood and the funny thing is we seem to have a love/hate relationship with it. We can’t survive without it, yet if/when we come in contact with it, especially the blood of someone or something else, we fear contamination. The message is stay away. But why?

For the Jews it was more about blood being the lifeforce and you are not to consume or therefore take, the lifeforce of another. Though Hebrews 9:22 states, "the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

So, what makes Jesus’ blood different? We need it. We can’t live without it. We drink it each Sunday during communion. Wait, what?!

Yep, we as Lutherans (and other Christian denominations) believe the wine/juice we drink after consecration IS the blood of Christ. We consume his blood and instead of becoming contaminated, we are cleansed. Jesus’ blood washes away our sins and we become new through Him. He is the sacrifice that was necessary for forgiveness.

Forget the calves and lambs. They are no longer needed since His death is the ultimate sacrifice. And with that sacrifice comes a new covenant, "that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance" (v. 15).

As so many times before, scripture tends to hit a little differently when you’re in a different season of life and circumstances have changed. I was recently named the executor (or more precisely, executrix) of my stepmother’s will and the only reason this happened is because she died. "It never takes effect while the one who made it is living" (v. 17).  

It is my job to safeguard the estate's assets, paying all debts and distribute what remains to the beneficiaries named in the will. Jesus was like the executor of his Father’s will and paid the ultimate debt. The Holy Spirit and disciples then became executors when Jesus’ human body was no more. And we too are called, as followers, to continue this process. But here’s the big difference,… we are not responsible for paying debt. That was taken care of by Jesus’ sacrifice. May we acknowledge this great mercy each time we put his blood to our lips.

PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for this opportunity to show our love and respect by carrying out your will and knowing that it’s only through Jesus’ blood that we truly live until we received the inheritance we are promised. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JENNIFER JERROME

I have known I was a child of God from the beginning. I was baptized and raised in the Catholic church and began attending UALC about 18 years ago when my husband I were searching for a place to worship and serve as a family. UALC has helped shape our faith over the years. We have been through several seasons of life and the constant has been our faith and family.