31 May June 1 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

ONLY THE BLOOD OF JESUS  

Hebrews 9:13-14  “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

Yahweh required animal sacrifices.  In fact, modern scholars estimate that over a given year there may have been well over 1,000,000 lambs alone offered on the sacrificial altars in the courtyard of the temple in Jerusalem.  In addition, there were the special sacrifices such as the one offered by the High Priest once a year in the Holy of Holies.

These sacrifices were repeated daily, year after year, for decades and centuries.  The writer to the Hebrews writes in today’s devotional verses, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse (your) conscience from acts that lead to death, so that (you) may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14)

Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:18-22 that Jesus, unlike the ongoing, repeated, never ending Old Testament sacrificial system, was Sacrificed one time to bring you to God.  He writes, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,  and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.”

Prayer:  Lead me, dear Jesus, along the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake.  Amen.

O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down,

Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown.

O sacred Head, what glory, What bliss, till now was Thine!

Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered Was all for sinners’ gain;

Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain.

Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place;

Look on me with Thy favor, And grant to me Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend,

For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?

O make me Thine forever! And should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love for Thee.

Be Thou my consolation, My shield, when I must die;

Remind me of Thy passion When my last hour draws nigh.

Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, Upon Thy cross shall dwell,

My heart by faith enfold Thee, Who dieth thus dies well.

(LSB 449)