June 4 – Daily Devotional

31 May June 4 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS

Hebrews 9:16-22 (Read Hebrews 9:16-21) “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

A last will and testament can only be executed after the testator (the one who had the will prepared in his or her behalf) has died.  Hebrews 9:16 says, “In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it. . .” God’s covenant promise with Israel that “He would be their God and they would be His people” required the death of His Son in payment for the people’s sins in order for this covenant to be put into effect.  During the several thousand years Israel lived with the promise of God’s covenant (last will and testament,) initially Moses and thereafter their priests sprinkled all the people with water, scarlet wool, and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.”  The High Priest, following the ceremonial law, given by God through Moses, they “sprinkled with the blood of the unblemished lamb both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. . . because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Verses 16-22 of Hebrews 9, the holy writer once again draws your attention to the necessity of shed blood for the forgiveness of sins.  There is no longer the need for repeatedly killing unblemished lambs to furnish blood to sprinkle on today’s worshippers because the sinless blood of Jesus was shed once to satisfy God’s judgment against sinners for all time.  With His blood you are cleansed.  Yahweh said through Moses, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11)

John writes in 1 John 2:1-2, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”  In His love for you, God sent His Son Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for your sins. (see 1 John 4:10)

Prayer:  Jesus, wash me in Your blood to cleanse me of my sins.  Amen.

Christ, the life of all the living, Christ, the death of death, our foe,

Who, Thyself for me once giving To the darkest depths of woe:

Through Thy suff’rings, death, and merit I eternal life inherit

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

Thou, ah! Thou, has taken on Thee Bonds and stripes, a cruel rod;

Pain and scorn were heaped upon Thee, O Thou sinless Son of God!

Thus didst Thou my soul deliver From the bonds of sin forever.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

Thou hast borne the smiting only That my wounds might all be whole;

Thou hast suffered, sad and lonely, Rest to give my weary soul;

Yea, the curse of God enduring, Blessing unto me securing.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

Heartless scoffers did surround Thee, Treating Thee with shameful scorn

And with piercing thorns they crowned Thee, All disgrace Thou, Lord, hast borne,

That as Thine Thou mightiest own me And with heav’nly glory crown me.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

Thou hast suffered men to bruise Thee, That from pain I might be free;

Falsely did Thy foes accuse Thee: Thence I gain security;

Comfortless Thy soul did languish Me to comfort in my anguish.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus unto Thee.

Thou hast suffered great affliction And hast borne it patiently,

Even death by crucifixion, Fully to atone for me;

Thou didst choose to be tormented That my doom should be prevented.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus unto Thee.

The, for all that wrought my pardon, For Thy sorrows deep and sore,

For Thine anguish in the Garden, I will thank The evermore,

Thank Thee for Thy groaning, sighing, For Thy bleeding and Thy dying,

For that last triumphant cry, And shall praise Thee, Lord, on high.

(LSB 420)