Covenants

In Exodus 24, the people of Israel affirm their covenant with the Lord. They re-affirm their commitment to following the word of the Lord, to obeying his command and offering sacrifices at his altar. To confirm the covenant between God and his people, Moses takes some of the blood from the sacrifices and sprinkles it on the altar and on the people. This covenant was God’s way of offering grace and forgiveness to his people as they waited for the Messiah, but it was an imperfect system. Imperfect sacrifices made by imperfect people. This is why sacrifices needed to be made continually. Sacrifices had to be made regularly by God’s people until the perfect sacrifice came.

Jesus Christ, on the eve of his death institutes a new covenant with his people. He is the perfect sacrifice, once for all. Animal sacrifices no longer need to be made at the Lord’s Altar. Instead, we now approach the altar to receive. We gather around the altar to partake of the very body and blood of Jesus Christ. To receive the forgiveness won for us by Christ’s sacrifice.

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Today we celebrate who Jesus is and the new covenant that he has established for us. “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus Christ has purified us with his blood and he continually shares that sacrifice with us for the forgiveness of our sins.

Prayer:
Jesus Christ, you are the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We thank you for sacrificing yourself for us, so that we would receive forgiveness and new life by the shedding of your precious blood. Be with us as we join in the fellowship of your altar that we would partake in your body and blood worthily for the forgiveness of our sins and strengthening of our faith to life everlasting. Amen.