The Blood

[0:00] A Pastor's Reflections, The Blood, Genesis 37-31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood.

[0:14] Leviticus 17-11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls. For it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.

[0:27] Hebrews 9-22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without the shedding of blood is no remission.

[0:41] For all intents and purposes, Joseph was no more. In the eyes of his father he was dead, an innocent life cruelly snatched from the bosom of his father.

[0:52] Jacob was now left with nothing but the torn and blood-covered coat that had once been so lovingly bestowed upon his favored son.

[1:03] Betrayed by his brothers, the beloved son of the father had cruelly gone down into death. And how did Joseph's brothers convince Jacob of Joseph's death?

[1:14] Did they simply come back without him? Would that have convinced Jacob? Or did they just bring back Joseph's empty coat, but clean and whole?

[1:25] No. No. The whole argument of Joseph's death hung upon the blood. It was the blood upon the coat that proved a death had taken place.

[1:36] The life is in the blood, and for Jacob, Joseph's life is no more. Ephesians 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

[1:52] In Christ, the favored son of the father, we have come into favor. We have obtained redemption and the forgiveness of sins. But how is this possible? And how do we know this is so?

[2:06] Is it because God just declared us righteous? Is it because Jesus came as a perfect man and lived a perfect and whole life before us? No.

[2:17] We know it is so because of the blood. The blood declares a death, and that death was the death that was owed to sin. The perfect man was torn. The beloved son was slain.

[2:29] The blood upon the coat proves a death. We now stand before a loving and holy God, completely justified and completely clean, because the blood was shed and the body torn.

[2:44] However, just as Joseph will one day be raised from the dead in the eyes of his father, so too was Jesus raised up out from among the dead. He was torn.

[2:55] He died. His blood was shed. But that was not the end. He now lives. And he lives to make white and clean all those who would come under the blood.

[3:07] Revelation 19, 11-14 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. And he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True.

[3:18] And in righteousness he does judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. And he had a name written that no man knew but he himself.

[3:31] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood. And his name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

[3:45] Jesus, our beloved Lord and the beloved Son of the Father, today is another day to live under the blood that was shed on our behalf.

[3:56] Today we are whole because you were torn. And today we are alive because you died. Thank you for the blood that proves a death, so that we might live a life that proves your love.

[4:09] Amen.