THE DUAL NATURE OF JESUS' PASSOVER SACRIFICE FOR ALL MANKIND
Jesus' sacrifice is clearly divided into two portions. One is his body and the other is his life. We know that the life is in the blood of all beings. Medics have to try hard to prevent the sick and wounded from bleeding out or losing too much of their blood. Death follows a loss of blood.
Leviticus 17:11 NKJV 11 'For the life of the flesh is in the blood...; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.'
The duality of the sacrifice of Jesus is based on the body and the blood. We will cover the immense value of the body portion of His sacrifice for all of us.
Mark 14:22-23 NKJV 22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
Jesus lovingly gave both his body and his life for us. What are the dangers of not appreciating the bodily portion of his selfless sacrifice for all mankind?
THE GREAT CORINTHIAN CHURCH DISASTER OF NOT DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY
Paul gives a dire warning to the Corinthian Church regarding their behavior during the New Covenant Passover.
1 Corinthians 11:23 NKJV 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
1 Corinthians 11:29 NKJV 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
This warning by the Apostle Paul is in regard to the calendar date upon which Jesus commemorated his betrayal and final death for us all, note the term 'same night.' This New Testament Passover ceremony is very important to God. This is the only Holy Day that has a make up ceremony for those who had to miss the service. Paul said their partying and drunken behavior would not be tolerated by God.
1 Corinthians 11:30 RSV 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
Paul is saying that a fair number of the congregation are sick and feeble and have died prematurely. God's healing power among this church has waned in punishment for the outlandish behavior. We have a direct correlation here between healing and the appreciation of the importance of Jesus' bodily sacrifice. Jesus Christ could have been given a fairly quick death and fulfilled the legal obligations to save our lives. But He and the Father choose the much more difficult and bloodier option.
Matthew 26:38-39 RSV 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."
God could have chosen a plan B in which Jesus was killed fairly quickly but he suffered for us.
CHRIST GAVE HIS BODY FOR OUR HEALING AND TO DEMONSTRATE HIS LOVE FOR US
WE CAN ONLY GUESS AS TO WHAT THAT FINAL PRAYER WAS LIKE BETWEEN JESUS AND THE FATHER. They sacrificed to the extreme for all mankind. What love! We are so unworthy that often it is hard for us to think about all that Christ sacrificed for us. But at the NT Passover season we should show our appreciation and return Jesus's love as best we can.
Isaiah 52:14-15 RSV 14 As many were astonished at him--his appearance was so marred, beyond human resemblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men-- 15 so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which they have not heard they shall understand.
Jesus willingly allowed himself to be tortured, what unbelievable discipline what love. Wow!
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Obviously his physical suffering and his life are related, but our healing and forgiveness for mankind's collective physical sins are base on his body being torn by the stripes on Christ's back.
Isaiah 53:7 NKJV 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
The real Passover Lamb is Jesus. He fulfilled the role in a wonderful, selfless and loving manner for all believers. We need to be in a spirit of 'THANKING GOD'!
Isaiah 53:11 NKJV 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
Jesus's Passover blood covers both our physical and spiritual iniquities.
HOW CAN WE SHOW OUR LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST?
God wants our hearts and minds. Therefore he would expect love and appreciation of Jesus in our thoughts.
1 Corinthians 11:28 NKJV 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
Believers need to spend time especially, prayer time, examining ourselves with regard to gaining an appreciation for all that Jesus Christ and God the Father sacrificed for our healing. Can we show more love for God?
John 15:9-10 NKJV 9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
It is good for us if we can return God's love as much as is possible being weak human beings.
Our obedience to God can also include our obeying as much as possible His laws that effect our bodily health. This would include laws of clean and unclean meats and common sense health rules. We need to try our best to live a healthy lifestyle. This would include visits to doctors and dentists that include preventive maintenance of this body.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NKJV 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
God desires that we live a healthy lifestyle so as to take care of our bodies. Paul was warning the problematic Corinthians against going to prostitutes risking STD and the obvious spiritual contamination of our body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Paul is saying Jesus paid a high price for our bodies so we must take care of them. This includes our mental and emotional health as well. We need to live in such a way as to reduce depression and emotional hatred etc. All us need to try hard o avoid things that abuse our bodies and undermine our health. No doubt as we age we are limited in our abilities to maintain good health but of course Jesus knows all that and will answer our prayers for healing. Some healing will occur in the next life as all men have to face the probability of death in this life.
Jesus emotional betrayal by Judas is both a physical and spiritual price paid by Christ. Therefore we should work to protect our emotional health as well as physical health. Opposite the betrayal of Christ we should focus on our brotherhood and comradeship, loyalty with Jesus that was on display at His last Passover with the disciples.
John 13:1 NKJV 1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end...13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
When we love Jesus and the other brethren we are fulfilling the emotional, loving brotherhood obligation God wants from all believers.
