Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Talk Tuesday-The Jesus Series; JESUS The Lamb of God, Pt. II

What did Jesus mean by saying he would not eat and drink the Passover meal until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God? What is this new covenant in his blood all about?

The Kingdom of God was first announced by John the Baptist. “1 In due course John the Baptist appeared; he proclaimed this message in the desert of Judaea, 2 'Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand,'” Matthew 3:1-2 (NJB). The Kingdom of God arrived when JESUS began His ministry. “14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel,'” Mark 1:14-15 (NKJV).

The Kingdom of God is also a future event. “...I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God,” Luke 22:16; “18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes,” Luke 22:18 (NKJV). How does the Kingdom of God come, what does it have to do with the Passover meal and the blood of this new covenant? The Passover Lamb in the OT (Exodus 12:21-23) caused the angel of death to pass by those who had its blood on their doorposts. JESUS is, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NKJV). His blood brings forgiveness, “28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins,” Matthew 26:28 NIV.

JESUS' return means that the Kingdom of God will be fulfilled. That Great Commission to, “...go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ” Matthew 28:19 (NIV) results in Revelation 5:9-10.. “9 They sang a new hymn: You are worthy to take the scroll and to break its seals, because you were sacrificed, and with your blood you bought people for God of every race, language, people and nation 10 and made them a line of kings and priests for God, to rule the world,” Rev. 5:9-10 (NJB). The 'second death' (Revelation 2:11), passes us by because of JESUS' shed blood on the cross. “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 6:23 (NIV). We have to figuratively apply the blood to the doorposts of our heart by repenting and believing the saving work of JESUS CHRIST, The Lamb of God. “7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed,” 1 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV).

Join us next week as we dig into the OT & NT to explore the question, 'So why blood and sacrifice?'

*Online Bible tools: biblegateway.com, catholic.org/bible/ & bible.com*

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