We are living in one of the most exciting eras of human history. Why? Because we are nearing the “end of the world” or the “end of the age” referred to by Jesus’ disciples (Matthew 24:3). God has had a master plan since “before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20). The Apostle Peter writes that we were not redeemed “with corruptible things, like silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (vv. 18–21).
Yes, we have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ! He paid for our sins, and the sins of the world. John the Baptist proclaimed to his audience, and to the world today through the Scriptures, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). At this season of the year, we humbly appreciate our own redemption, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7).
All baptized members will observe Passover this year on Sunday night, March 24, 2013. We celebrate the annual festivals and worship God with a depth of thanksgiving. How deep is our thanksgiving? It depends on the depth of our repentance. The woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair profoundly appreciated the forgiveness afforded her. The Pharisee who observed this action judged Jesus as consorting with a sinner. So, what did Jesus teach this self-righteous man? “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (Luke 7:44–47).
Our Repentance
How deep is your repentance? Have you ever repented to the extent that you have truly begun to understand the awesome love, grace and forgiveness God has for you? God’s kindnesses and goodness lead us to repentance: “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). The woman who washed Jesus’ feet profoundly understood this “for she loved much.” And as a result, Jesus told her, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48).
Have you lived a “good” life? Many of God’s people have done so. But there is a danger in this. If you have lived a “good” life, you may not yet have faced clearly the reality of your human nature. You may not have begun to come close to the depth of repentance expressed by Job, or by the Apostle Paul.
After the younger man, Elihu, had focused on Job’s real problem (Job 32–37), and after the Eternal powerfully challenged Job (chapters 38–41), Job finally saw his own human nature, as contrasted with God’s power, eternity and greatness. What, then, was Job’s response? “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5–6).
Have you ever repented with that same degree of humility? Have you ever “abhorred” yourself—not because of self-pity, but because you saw the reality of God’s greatness? The Apostle Paul similarly saw his human nature, which he describes as “the law of sin,” contrasted to God’s love, patience and mercy. “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:23–25). Paul acknowledges his weakness, and continues, “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (v. 25).
Have you ever acknowledged your human condition by expressing to God something similar to what the Apostle Paul wrote? “O wretched man [or woman] that I am!” Such repentance is a strong foundation for a commitment to obey God and faithfully serve Him.
In preparation for the Passover, we annually examine ourselves in order to see our need to change, and also to confirm our commitment to God the Father and Jesus Christ. Are we truly in the faith? “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Our future—and our eternity—are at issue. We must soberly examine the depth of our dedication and our closeness to the Father and to our great High Priest, Jesus Christ. “Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified” (vv. 5–6).
How do we know whether or not Christ is living His life in us? “If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit” (1 John 4:12–13).
Remembering the Blood of the Lamb
In addition to self-examination, we should reflect on the many scriptures emphasizing Christ’s sacrifice. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:8–9). Notice that God loved us before we were converted—“while we were still sinners.”
Now God has called us to become kings and priests in His coming Kingdom. Along with that calling, He reminds us of the blood of the Lamb: “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5–6). Notice again in “the song of the saints” that we must acknowledge Christ’s sacrifice! “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9–10).
God has redeemed us by the most priceless gift in the universe—not by silver or gold, but “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). How deeply do you appreciate that sacrifice, that redemption price?
Many of us have been emotionally moved by the music of Handel’s Messiah. The Hallelujah Chorus is probably the best-known part of Handel’s work, but my wife and I have been moved as the lengthy oratorio crescendos to its concluding selection: “Worthy Is the Lamb.” The last three-and-a-half minutes gloriously present the final “Amen” to this inspiring oratorio, and my wife and I are often brought to tears when we hear it.
Scripture tells us that the heavenly hosts—millions of angels, the 24 elders, and the living creatures—proclaim for all ages this powerful truth of Christ’s worthiness. The Apostle John writes: “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’” (Revelation 5:11–12).
Prepare for the Passover
The Lamb, Jesus Christ, was slain for you and for me! We will observe that awesome event at the Passover, an annual memorial of His sacrifice for us and for the world. God gives us the privilege of witnessing the heavenly acclamation in the Scriptures: “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13–14).
As Christians, we are to rejoice always in God’s awesome love for the Church and the world (John 3:16). God loved us when we were His enemies. Now that we have been reconciled through Christ’s shed blood, our loving, living Savior and High Priest (Hebrews 7:24–27) is actively saving us: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:10–11).
Brethren, we must continually examine ourselves and our relationship to God the Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We must live with alertness and awareness of God’s willingness to guide us continually. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). As we strive to live in the light of truth and reject the darkness of the world’s ways, we will constantly experience loving fellowship with our Father and Savior.
Christ will soon be returning to this earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Savior of the World (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14). The Church has a special relationship with our Lord—He gave Himself for “her,” the Church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25–27). We look forward to the day when the Church will marry the Lamb: “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7).
As you prepare for the Passover, be sure to meditate deeply on your relationship with your Savior. Examine yourself whether you really are “in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Rededicate your life to His service and rejoice in the glory we will share with Him and with our Father in heaven. “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). May we all praise our Lord and love Him forever. For “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”