The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power

TITLE: The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power 04-13-2014

TEXT: Matthew 26:27, 28 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

Meander to the stage singing under your breath “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” ask musicians if they have ever heard the old song. Kick it with Selah’s version.

I. JESUS INAUGURATION DAY PARADE

A. Today is Palm Sunday. Close your eyes for a moment. You’ve heard the story before haven’t you? Jerusalem is eager for a King. Herod is a homicidal maniac. If he were not that, he would be a joke. Pilate is a little Tyrant. Caesar must be the devil.

1. They just can’t take it anymore! They want this wonderful King long prophesied who would be of David’s line, who would save the nation from slipping into the abyss. They want the Messiah. They want Him NOW!

2. No one has ever satisfied the scriptural description and the hunger of their souls like Jesus. He was loved by the people. So what if the rich and powerful Jews didn’t like Him.

--The Pharisees and Scribes only seemed concerned about ingratiating themselves on the prestige and esteem they garnished from their respected position

--The Sadducees were just jealous and a bit too cozy with the status quo of Roman rule.

3. This Scriptural concept that people were God’s loved children little, though as old as creation itself, was deceitfully hidden.

4. This Jesus was the provider of bread for the masses. He was the Healer of the sick. He was the Deliverer from the devil’s tyranny. He was EVERYTHING.

5. Palm Sunday was sort of like His inauguration day parade –His stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue with a donkey.

6. When I was a kid, when this time of year rolled around, I found myself asking the question, “How did Jesus choke so bad? How could anybody choke so bad?” “In just one week...” “Man, He needed somebody to handle His PR or sumthin.”

--It’s like He had a 90yd lead in the 100yd dash and He still finished last when you look at Golgotha.

7. Strangely, I bet that is how the disciples would have reflected on that Passover week had Jesus not been very careful to give them some utterly Earth Shaking information as they celebrated the Passover Seder together.

II. JESUS BLOOD IS FINALLY, COMPLETELY SUFFICIENT

A. Jesus has gathered His disciples together for the meal we now call the Last Supper. He holds up a significant ceremonial cup and begins to explain His blood will be the New Covenant and will be sufficient.

1. For 4000 years they sacrificed goats and bulls, though highly esteemed by the Jews as a means of religion, such proved to be insufficient, unsatisfactory, in bringing people into a close family relationship with Father God –almost it seems though by God’s grand design. Hebrews 9:18-22 18 That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. 19 For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. 20 Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” 21 And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. 22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

2. But now, Jesus is lifting a cup and saying it is filled with His own blood and it confirms what the Old Covenant failed to completely confirm – the total forgiveness of sins.

3. Jesus satisfied the stone cold, harsh requirements of the Law given by Moses with His very own blood.

--Jesus blood was, is and will always be sufficient. In fact, it is more than you will ever need.

4. This is what He was meant in the Sermon on the Mount when He said Matthew 5:17 17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

5. His execution would be a selfless loving act which would accomplish what no other ritual sacrifice had ever accomplished.