But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:22
Yesterday, we rejoiced over the incredible truth of “But now…” in Colossians 1:22. Two words that change everything for us who have come to know the saving grace of Jesus. This was pretty incredible, but there is more for us to embrace. Paul goes on to describe how we move from being alienated and enemies of God to something incredible. Verse 22 describes believers as “holy,” “without blemish,” and “free from accusation.” What we see here is that the goal of Christ’s sacrifice was to present us as righteous before God. Colossians 1:21 and 1:22 could not describe two more polar opposites. Is this true for me? Is this true for you?
The reconciliation we see here is made possible by the death of Christ’s physical body. Paul was directly addressing a popular belief that Jesus wasn’t really human, but only appeared to be human. If you back up to Colossians 1:15-20, we read of the preeminence of Christ as “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Paul paints a picture of the greatness of Jesus so that when he gets to the reconciling work of Jesus, the question is not if Jesus could actually do this but awe that God himself would go this far to make peace with his creation. Jesus came on the greatest rescue mission ever so that he could return to the Father and present you and me “holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
Today is known as Maundy Thursday of Holy Week and it is the day where Jesus celebrated the Passover in the upper room with his disciples. In these final moments with his disciples, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, gave us communion, reiterated several essential truths, and prayed an incredible prayer for the disciples and future followers (John 13-17, Matthew 26:17-29). Today, when we observe the Lord’s Supper we remember the very physical nature of Christ’s sacrifice for us. If it is difficult to believe that God sees his children as holy, blameless, and free from accusation, the upper room is a window into the love that made those truths possible for you and me.
We invite you to join us at Sanctuary this evening at 6:30pm as we pause and remember that night long, long ago in the upper room as Jesus gave us physical reminders of a new spiritual reality available to us to become holy and blameless children of God.
Reflection:
1. What words do you think of God using to describe you?
2. When was the last time you thought of yourself as “blameless”?
3. What accusations do you battle in your life? How do the words of Romans 8:33-34 encourage you?
Pray through the truth of Matthew 26:17-29
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
