Blood of the Covenant

In Mark Twain's Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom and Huck Finn witnessed Injun Joe kill Dr. Robinson.  They decided they would keep the matter secret and made a pact, each signing his name with his own blood.  Though the book was written in the late 19th century, the practice of sealing an agreement with your own blood is not a new concept.  Last night during family Bible reading, we read of circumcision - not your typical after dinner discussion!  The biblical history and significance of circumcision is an interesting study because it points to the new covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ.

God appeared to Abram and told him to leave his father's house and land, and go to a land God would show him.  So Abram took all his belongings and embarked on an amazing journey of faith.  God made many promises to Abram.  He told Abram that he would be the father of many nations and give to his descendants the land of Canaan.  Genesis 17:1-11 reads, "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. ² And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." ³ Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: ⁴ "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. ⁵ No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. ⁶ I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. ⁷ And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. ⁸ Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." ⁹ And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. ¹⁰ This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male child among you shall be circumcised; ¹¹ and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you."

In establishing a covenant or agreement with Abram, God required Abram's obedience in the matter of circumcision:  the covenant would be sealed with Abram's own blood.  God changed Abram's name to Abraham and told him that circumcision would be the sign of the covenant between Him and Abraham.  It is one thing to believe the promises of God:  it is a greater thing indeed to have the faith to walk in obedience!  God told Abraham to remove skin from a sensitive part of the body and from every male in his household.  This could not be done without cutting, bleeding, and lingering soreness.  Instead of saying, "You want me to do WHAT?" Abraham believed God, trusted Him, and was circumcised that day.

Now fast-forward to eight days after the birth of Jesus.  Luke 2:21 says, "And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb."  According to the covenant of the Mosaic Law, Jesus was circumcised.  But this was not the last time that Christ's blood would be shed.  Consider when Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover in the upper room and when He instituted the Lord's Supper.  He spoke in Luke 22:19-20 says, "And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." ²⁰ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you."  This was spoken on the night Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, wrongfully condemned, and later crucified.  Jesus was not only circumcised, but all His blood was poured out on the cross to usher in the new covenant in His blood.  It is by grace we are saved through faith, a gift of God.

Romans 4:8-13 states, "Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." ⁹ Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. ¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, ¹² and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. ¹³ For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."  Paul explains that Abraham received promises and favour from God while uncircumcised.  In that day many Jews who trusted in Christ said that one must be circumcised to obtain salvation and forgiveness of sins.  Abraham did not earn God's favour through the circumcision of his flesh, but through the faith which enabled him to obey God and be circumcised.  The Law cannot save, only condemn.  The Law is a schoolmaster which leads us by the hand to Christ so we might repent and trust Him for salvation.

I am convinced that the greatest display of faith is revealed in Jesus Christ as He willingly laid down His life on Calvary.  It is one thing to submit to circumcision:  it is a greater thing to submit to crucifixion!  Jesus said in Gethsemane to the Father, "Not my will, but your will be done."  Many men have stared death in the face.  But only Jesus believed He would overcome death and predicted He would rise from the dead in three days.  People make wild predictions all the time, but not Jesus.  He always spoke the truth and not one word has failed from all His promises.  After Jesus Christ ascended into heaven John wrote this of Christ in Revelation 1:12-18:  "Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵ His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; ¹⁶ He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. ¹⁷ And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."

What an awesome God!  He is worthy of all glory, honour, and praise.  He is the only one worth following for eternity.  Jesus has said in Luke 9:23-24, "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."  I trust Jesus and desire to follow Him until the end.  He is the one who has willingly given all His life's blood so I could be redeemed and saved from my sins.  He offers you salvation through faith.  You do not have to write your name in blood, be circumcised to be saved, nor must you be nailed to a cross.  He has already shed blood so your sins can be forgiven and His righteousness imputed to you through faith.  But if you trust Him you will joyfully endure anything for His sake, whether He tells you to leave your homeland or go to the land which He will show you.  There is nothing better than losing your life for Christ sake, for in doing so you find true everlasting life.