Read John 19:31-37
Zechariah 12:10; 13:1 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him...On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness." (ESV)
The broken body. The spilled blood. Sin's debt is paid. Grace given in return.
Alas! and did my Savior bleed and did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head for such an one as I?
Was it for sins that I had done he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide and shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died, For man, the creature's sin.
Thus might I hide my shamed face while his dear Cross appears,
dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt mine eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne'er repay the debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself to thee; 'Tis all that I can do.
(Isaac Watts)
Hebrews 10:22-25 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
God's forsaking of the Son on the cross was always the plan. It was always the plan because the Father always knew that we--who were created by God to glorify God--would need a covering for sin or else we would all die in our sin and not accomplish his purpose in Creation. That covering for sin became "a fountain, filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel’s veins."
And, "The blood will never lose its power!" The fountain of forgiveness continues to work in the lives of those who name Jesus as Lord and King! We stand "covered" even now. Thank you, Jesus.
