Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Holy Qurbana – Commemoration and Experience of the Salvic Event
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes” – Verse 26.
Our God is omniscient. When He created Adam and Eve, He knew that they would not be keeping His commandment to abstain from eating the fruit of the tree of knowing good and evil. As time went by, He saw that humanity was filled with sin and corruption, and He repented that He made man in His own image. However, in His abounding love and mercy, He made a provision for man to escape the eternal punishment. God’s plan of redemption was revealed in a series of events that manifested in the lives Adam and His descendants.
The first event that point in the direction of the escape plan is illustrated in the life of Noah, the servant of God. The righteousness of God would not allow sin to go unpunished. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8). The Lord said that He will establish His covenant with Noah. Later Abraham came in the next phase of God’s plan. He was followed by Jacob, Moses, David and so on. God’s covenant with Abraham is interpreted by Apostle Paul as two – one illustrated through Hagar by flesh and the other illustrated through Sarah by promise of God. (Galatians 4:24). One covenant emanates from the will of man with the desire of flesh and the other comes out of the promise of God.
When we examine the events in human history, we see that these two covenants work side by side. We observe duel sets of people, one trying to meet the covenant by their own effort, and the other reaching the goal by pure grace of God. It is impossible for flesh and blood to please God through old covenant. God insists that He is not pleased in sacrifices but in mercy (Hosea 6:6). The Israelites tried times and again to please God by the Law and Commandments. However, all their efforts turned out to be futile. When the Messiah arrived on the scene with the New Covenant as a solution to their dilemma, they failed to recognize Him.
Jesus opened the New Covenant, when He shared the bread and wine with His disciples on the night He was betrayed. The Lord declared very succinctly “This is the blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins”- Matthew 26:28. God is not bound by time and therefore the efficacy of the cross is spread throughout human history. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”- John 1:12.
As many biblical scholars believe that we are nearing the end of time, the New Covenant has utmost importance. Man has utterly failed to get right with God. All his efforts fell short of God’s standard. When the disciples marveled who could achieve salvation, Jesus declared... “with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” – Matthew 19:26. If we look at the world at large, it is easy to realize that it has moved far away from biblical perspectives. The current culture is at war with the principles established by the Word of God. As servants of God, our task is to shed light on the New Covenant, which the final beacon of hope for the humanity. “..Today if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts…” Hebrews 3:15. Today is day for remorse and repentance of our sins before the Lord. According to His promise, He will forgive our sins and secure our souls to stand washed and clean before Him at His glorious appearance.
Dear Lord, as I partake in the body and blood of your new covenant, let it bring life and salvation to my body and soul.
Thought for the Day
“Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”
- E.A. Hoffman (1878)
Abraham Mammen, Sehion Mar Thoma Church, Dallas, Texas