A NEW COVENANT AND A NEW LIFE IN JESUS

Holy Week is always an emotional time for me. It is one of the most significant periods of time for us to truly contemplate and meditate on Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ ! From His entry into the city of Jerusalem on the back of a young Donkey colt we recognize as Palm Sunday, up until His Crucifixion and Death on Good Friday, and to the Finalization of God’s Plan upon His Resurrection three days later, the entire series of events are truly incredible. When we look at this week, each and every day and the myriad of things that Jesus said and did are ALL of extreme importance to each of us. For me, it all corresponds to the Amazing Love that GOD HAS FOR HIS PEOPLE ! In the Book Of Exodus, we are invited in to the lives of the Jewish people and their enslavement by the Egyptians. It was a time when God had sent Moses to Free His People and deliver the message to Pharaoh that he must let them go. In the final push for their release, God would bring death upon all the firstborn in the land, except those who would paint their doorpost with the blood of a sacrificed lamb (Paschal Lamb), thus allowing the spirit of death to “Passover” their homes and families. God demanded the spilling of blood for protection and deliverance. Historically, the sacrifice of animals continued in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem for the atonement of Sin, along with guilt and peace to draw nearer to God. The key to “sin” specifically was the spilling of blood to restore and reinvigorate relationship with God Himself. Indeed, during the Lifetime Of Jesus, every family would go to Jerusalem to sacrifice at the temple, and also participate in the Passover Meal of Lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread as a recognition and thanksgiving for God’s mercy and saving grace in remembrance of Exodus. PASSOVER is still Celebrated and Relevant today ! IT IS RELEVANT TO US AS CHRISTIANS AND FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ! It should be clear to every Christian that JESUS REPRESENTS THE TRUE PASSOVER LAMB. INNOCENT AND WITHOUT BLEMISH HE WAS SACRIFICED ON A CROSS FOR OUR SIN. HIS BLOOD WAS THE PRICE GOD DEMANDED FOR OUR SIN TO BE FORGIVEN, AND OUR RELATIONSHIP TO BE RESTORED….ONCE AND FOREVER COMPLETE.

HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE CROSS, SO THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SINS AND LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED. 1 Peter 2:24

WHO, BEING IN VERY NATURE GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO BE USED TO HIS OWN ADVANTAGE, RATHER, HE MADE HIMSELF NOTHING BY TAKING THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS. AND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO DEATH- EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS ! Philippians 2:6-8

IN HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, IN ACCORDANCE TO THE RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE. Ephesians 1:7

In Jesus as our Passover Lamb, WE receive through His Death the ultimate and final sacrifice for our sins should we place our belief and trust in Him. THIS, is the foundation of a NEW COVENANT that Jesus Himself proclaimed at the Last Supper during the Passover meal with His Disciples. In Luke 22, verse 20, Jesus proclaims to them, “ IN THE SAME WAY HE ALSO TOOK THE CUP AFTER SUPPER AND SAID, “THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH IS POURED OUT FOR YOU”. Could there be any greater gift for each one of us than this ? JESUS HAS SET US FREE FOREVER, IN HIM:) He has given us a NEW LIFE ! Deep in my heart I can only imagine in a small way what the week must have been like for Him. All the traits of a human man, colliding with the power of Absolute Deity, surrendering in humility and sacrifice for the sad condition that we ARE AS MANKIND. Giving up His Life for those who were berating Him, beating Him, and mocking Him, all while asking The Father to forgive them. Even more compelling for me is the incredible Invitation to BE HIS AND LIVE IN HIS KINGDOM….as a Gentile ! Invited in and grafted into the Vine. It is indeed hard to see the plight of the Jewish people caught up in the grip of old ways, but God promises a future of hope for them as we truly become One New Man In Christ. JESUS IS ALIVE, AND IN HIM WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FUTURE AND HOPE ! His resurrection comes with the promise that HE WILL RETURN AGAIN, and I eagerly await that day indeed :) It is easy to get wrapped up in our day to day activities and become less aware of God and His Promises, but this week allows us to Re-Focus on a Higher Perspective and Deeper Journey. I HAVE CHANGED. My priorities have changed. Funny how things that used to seem so important just don’t have the same meaning. JESUS CHANGES OUR HEARTS. HE HAS CHANGED MINE :)

THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION. THE OLD HAS PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, THE NEW HAS COME. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME. AND THE LIFE I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE IN THE SON OF GOD WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. Galatians 2:20

FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU, BOTH TO WILL AND TO WORK FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. Philippians 2:13

We have been given a New Covenant…what will we do with it ? Will you change and realign your priorities toward God and His Kingdom, or will you live in the world and Yourself ? For the followers of Jesus, all was chaotic and difficult to understand in the moment. I can’t imagine the sadness and fear they must have lived for those days before they saw Him In His Resurrection ! WE have the gift of Time and the Truth of those who have lived before us, having the Faith And Belief of HIS DIETY ! Take the time this week to approach Him in Worship and Prayer. Seek Him and understand HIS GIFT FOR YOU:) WE are to go forth and SHARE HIM. Make the GOSPEL your focus and your Life as you lift up others and bring the LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO YOUR MIDST. May this Passover Season and Easter bring deeper meaning into your heart and life !

A NEW LIFE IN JESUS/JAA

NOW MAY THE GOD OF PEACE HIMSELF SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY, AND MAY YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY BE KEPT BLAMELESS AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL; HE WILL SURELY DO IT. 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-25