11 AUGUST

THE SCARLET CORD (5)

“The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross…”
(Matthew 27:35, ERV)

Seeing someone bleeding is usually a shaky experience, even if it is just a minor injury. This reminds me of the following true life story: 

“As soon as the car stopped, the security man rushed in to bring out a wheelchair and the nurses were on hand to lift the lady into the chair. She was wheeled briskly into the emergency room. All the gadgets to monitor blood pressure and pulse, as well as oxygen levels, were quickly put on her. The doctor seemed quite fidgety as he was handed over the kidney dish of sterile tools to put a line into her vein for infusion. He inserted the butterfly needle but as he tried to insert the blood collection bottle for blood tests, it fell off his hands and a spurt of blood flowed like a twirling red cord and in those few seconds blood was all over the patient and had spurted in small pools on the floor.”

Imagine what must have happened to Jesus when those nails were heartlessly knocked into his wrists and feet. The blood may have spurted initially and then drained slowly but continuously like a thin scarlet cord from four points. This scarlet cord formed out of His blood paid the price for the salvation of man.

Jesus experienced a slow and very painful death. He was heartbroken from the betrayal of one of his best friends whom He had trusted enough to take care of the money donated to His ministry. He watched His mum and friends endure the shame of His crucifixion. He bore the sins of the world, though He had none, and was separated from His Father who would not behold iniquity. He made this choice for man’s reconciliation with God, out of love. He laid down his Life to pick it up again. He lives and so we live for ever.

Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Just like the blood of the Passover lamb, the blood of Jesus has to be applied by our faith in Him to come under His protection and salvation.

ACTION: Jesus suffered and died to deliver you from the power of sin and other works of the devil. Are you free, and free indeed? Live in the consciousness of this divine provision.

PRAYER: I pray, Heavenly Father, that the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross will not be in vain in my life.