“ It is finished.”
In the next to the last words Jesus spoke, we have the most profound
theological statement, only understood in retrospect.
No one there could have understood it. Neither would we.
“Why did my Savior come to earth, and to the humble go?,
why did he choose a lowly birth?, because he loved me so.”
He came to do the Father's will.
He came to die in my place.
He came to fulfill God's holy law in the days of his flesh.
He came to make an end of sins.
He came to give us access to speak to God.
He came to clothe us in his righteousness – alone.
He came to bring us to God, without spot or blemish.
When Jesus said, “it is finished.”, he meant that all that was required for
sinful creatures to return to their holy Creator, had been accomplished.
God and man reconciled, was expressed by these three words.
The simplicity of his words, guards against our relentless pride.
Father
in his body he made peace for us.
keep us from spoiling the peace with mouthfuls of words.
teach us to be quiet in the presence of his death.
may the bread give to us today, his quiet and gentle spirit.
There is only so much blood in a human body. When it is drained away, life comes to an end. Our lives are just as surely coming to an end. Only his soul covering for ours, will grant access to see the Father's face.
The sinless life covering ours. That is grace, equally available to all.
We dare not mix anything with this blood.
The disadvantaged are not disadvantaged here. The holy Life is fully shared with whosoever will. “There is power, there is power, wonder-working power, in the precious blood of the lamb.”
Father
we thank You for his life that continually cleanses ours.
we praise You for Jesus suffering all of our punishment. Keep us near the cross that we may not deny him. only You have begotten us again unto the hope of eternal life, by his blood and his Resurrection.