From the Pastor – March

One of the goals that my mother had for all seven of her children was that they would be able to play the piano well enough to sight read hymns. After three or four years of painstaking efforts and several patient piano teachers, I finally was able to play selected hymns (those with a limited number of sharps or flats).

I soon discovered that most Lenten hymns fit my criteria of only two sharps or flats; and I fell in love with Lenten hymns. It wasn’t long before “Glory Be to Jesus” (LSB 433) was something I could play with both hands; the more I played it the more the words sunk into my memory and into my heart. Let’s take a look at three of these powerful verses, where the voice of the blood cries out.

Verse 1: Glory be to Jesus, who in bitter pains – poured for me the lifeblood, from His sacred veins.

Verse 4: Abel’s blood for vengeance, pleaded to the skies; but the blood of Jesus, for our pardon cries.

Verse 6: Lift we, then our voices, swell the mighty flood; louder still and louder, praise the precious blood.

Jesus love for us was so great that He was willing to give His own blood for us; so, I join the hymn writer and praise God that His only begotten Son was willing to shed His blood for me! I can do nothing to deserve this great gift; by faith the Holy Spirit leads me to receive this unconceivable gift of grace.

In Genesis chapter 4 we read the story of Cain murdering his brother Abel; the LORD confronted Cain and said that “the voice of your brother’s blood is crying from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10). Hebrew scholar Chad Bird (Unveiling Mercy – 365 Daily Devotions) says we can learn three things from Cain’s story: 1) Blood has a voice, 2) That voice cries to God, 3) That bloody voice is heard.

The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews reminds us that “Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant, and the sprinkled blood (of Jesus) speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24). God heard Abel’s blood crying from the ground; just think how much louder the blood of Christ rings in His ears. Abel’s blood was shed in vengeance; but Christ’s blood was given freely out of selfless love for us. Jesus’ death on the cross brings pardon and peace; His blood cries to God on our behalf and covers our sins with His righteousness.

Christ’s blood reconciles us with God; Jesus makes peace with God by shedding His blood on the cross for our sake (Colossians 1:20). In response to His great love, we lift our voices in praise, we bend our knees and confess that His spotless blood was shed for our sins that our consciences might be purified and cleansed so that we can serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14).

Pastor Schuldheisz