Job 25:4 ” How then can a man be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure? “

The simple answer to these questions is…we can’t.   In our immoral human state, we are not innocent before God and in right standing with Him, and no matter what we try to “do” to become righteous we will fail,  for all of our good works are like filthy rags in His eyes, (Isaiah 64:6)  The only way we can stand pure before God is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Jesus came to seek and save the lost, (that’s us) and to bear on His body our guilt and shame that we may stand before our Heavenly Father sinless and perfect…washed in the blood of Jesus.

John 13:18 ” I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scriptures: ‘He who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ “

Jesus is predicting His betrayal by Judas in quoting  Psalm 41:9.  In the span of three short years, Jesus fulfilled each prophecy that had been written about the coming Messiah.  From His selection of the apostles…to knowing full well the impending treachery of Judas…Jesus carried out His plan and purpose wholly .

Deuteronomy 26:18 ” And the Lord has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands.”

Later, in Titus 2:14 it says, “Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people who are His very own, eager to do what is good.”  If as a Believer, we could fully grasp just how valued and cherished we are in the Lord’s sight, we would be radically changed.  But we can grasp it in a fashion.  Jesus Christ died in our place on that Cross…taking upon Himself our sins,  in order that we may have a pathway to God.  You want to know  how precious you are to the Lord?  Take a look at His hands and feet…He willingly endured that for you.

John 8:42 ” Jesus said to them, ‘ If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on My own; but He sent Me.’ “

God sent His only Son to earth in order to save us from  our sins.  Jesus Christ came from God to take our place on that cross.  So if you know God…you love Jesus…and if you love Jesus and accept Him as your Savior, your sins are forgiven…and when your sins are forgiven, you receive eternal life.

Mark 14:18 ” While they were reclining at the table eating, He said, ‘ I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me – one who is eating with Me.’ “

Unfortunately, Jesus could say this of many of us.  We like to hang out with Jesus, but when the going gets tough,  we break faith.  Fear, embarrassment, not wanting to offend, wishing to be politically correct will all cause us to deny Him to some degree.  When someone questions our religion, or mocks  our Christian walk  we cave and shy away from taking a stand.  Yes, we love to just hang with Jesus…but only when we’re not forced into a difficult situation and have to choose.

Mark 10:32 ” They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way…”

Jesus had been predicting His death to His Disciples… and they were fearful of traveling to Jerusalem for what they saw as imminent death of their beloved Leader.  Jesus didn’t shrink back or go into hiding…rather He had set off resolutely on the road to Jerusalem knowing full well what awaited Him.  Isaiah prophesied of this in 50:7, “…therefore I have set My face like flint…”  Jesus lead the way, going before the twelve Disciples…completely in control of the situation…not controlled by it.

Romans 5:8 ” But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s love for you was being manifested even while you were far from Him…His care and kindness were being revealed, even while you used  His name in vain and scorned His very existence.  Yes, over the course of your life God has continued to make it very clear that He loves you…to the point,  that if you were the only person on earth – Jesus would have died to save your soul.

I Corinthians 11:23-26 ” The Lord Jesus, on the night He as betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you, do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this , whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.’ “

The Eucharist…Holy Communion…the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper – these verses are used often to explain and give enlightenment to this sacred act.  But sadly,  the  receiving of Communion is often rushed or so common place that the Believer isn’t allowed the time to truly dwell on what the elements they hold in their hands mean.  Communion is a reminder of  who Jesus is and what He  has done for us.  It’s a chance to ponder where we’d be without Him.  The next time you take Communion…look at the bread and cup carefully…reflect on His goodness and mercy…meditate on what He’s done for you…and declare your thanks.

Matthew 5:17 ” Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Jesus Christ came into this world to fulfill every prophecy of the coming Messiah.  By His actions and sufferings each prophecy came to fruition.  But Jesus also came to perform perfect obedience to the Law of God…thus satisfying the requirements of said Law.

Colossians 1:13 ” For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

We have been snatched from darkness into the light…from the power of Satan to the forgiveness of God.  We have been pulled from captivity to the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the redemption of His blood.