Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.
Our Old Testament reading is from Leviticus 13 and our New Testament reading is from Matthew 26:20-54.
We haven’t reflected on our Matthew reading for over a week, so it’s worth doing so today. I hope you’ve been enjoying the opportunity to slow down and read a few paragraphs per day as Jesus gets closer to his death and resurrection.
Before we reflect on our Matthew reading, it’s worth doing a quick recap of one of the major events in Exodus. If you’ve been following along with this podcast for a while, hopefully the events of the Exodus are still fresh from our readings.
The book of Exodus began with God’s people – the Hebrews – being numerous in population, but also oppressed and enslaved under the harsh regime of Pharaoh in Egypt. Remember – the LORD heard their groaning and said that he would rescue them. The LORD raised up Moses and Aaron to lead the people and they had the task of approaching Pharaoh to ask him to let God’s people go. He refused, and upon each refusal, the LORD sent a series of plagues in judgement upon the Egyptians.
The tenth plague – the death of the firstborn – was the most devastating of all. On that night all the firstborns were struck down. But the LORD passed over the homes of the Israelites who had painted the blood of a lamb on their doorposts.
After they were spared from death, God’s people came out of Egypt having been saved by the LORD. Immediately after their rescue, Moses said to the people, “remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place.” (Exodus 13:3). And the Passover Feast of Unleavened Bread was instituted.
Every year – God’s people were to celebrate the Passover – remembering God’s mighty act of redemption.
Now, keeping that overview of Exodus in mind will help us to understand the significance of what happens while Jesus and his disciples are celebrating Passover in Matthew 26. Look at the bold words Jesus says in Matthew 26:26–28,
[26] Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” [27] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, [28] for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)
Can you see it? Jesus is transforming that Passover meal to be a meal about him.
For generations – Israel have remembered that high point of their history when God rescued them from slavery and marked it out with a meal. Jesus is saying – that that meal is ultimately about him! God’s rescue in Exodus was pointing forward to a greater rescue in Jesus.
The very next day will become the greatest moment of redemption – not just for Israel, but for many people from many nations who will put their trust in Jesus. The very next day Jesus will be crucified on a cross. Lambs were sacrificed and blood was shed in Exodus, THE Lamb of God will be sacrificed and his blood will be shed the following day at Calvary.
Jesus says that his blood will be “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”. Jesus rescues us from an even great slavery.
Not all of us have been enslaved to the harsh rule of the Egyptians… but all of us have been enslaved to sin because all are guilty of sin. Sin is breaking God’s rules, sin is making up our own rules. And the bible says that because of sin we deserve judgement from a Holy God.
But the good news is that through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross – when he gave his body and his blood – we can be forgiven of our sin and rescued from its consequences.
Perhaps one way that you could respond to this message today is to confess your sin to God – whether for the first time or the thousandth time – and give thanks to God for the body and blood of Jesus given to rescue you from your sin.
Until tomorrow, keep trusting Jesus.