Luke 22:14-20
(Use the link below to
read the verses.)
In
1960, the Green Bay Packers had a devastating loss in the NFL finals. The following
year, Vince Lombardi started his pre-season training camp with the basics. “Gentlemen,
this is a football.” This is what coaches, teachers and employers do; they start
with the fundamentals of the job that is in front of you.
Understanding
the Bible is the same way. You start with the basics; the fundamentals. One of
the Biblical basics is understanding the difference between the Old Covenant,
found in the Old Testament, and the New Covenant, found in the New Testament.
One
is about the Law; the other grace. One is about rituals; the other relationship.
For some, the two shall never meet. In reality though, they are both a part of
the same story. Together, they tell the history of God’s plan of redemption. They
tell the story of God’s covenant with Israel, and with all those who believe
and have faith.
The
Old Covenant was confirmed in Exodus 24 with many animal sacrifices being
made.
6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the
other half he splashed against the altar… 8 Moses then took the
blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant
that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” NIV
The
New Covenant was confirmed during the Passover Feast with Jesus and his
disciples in the Upper Room.
20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup
is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my
blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. NLT
Like
the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant, Jesus shed his blood to establish
the New Covenant so that we might be forgiven. The difference being that Jesus
is the pure Lamb of God sacrificed once for all so that no other sacrifices are
necessary.
In
order to be the best football players and team that they could be, Vince
Lombardi
instructed his team in the basics. As followers of Christ, should we
do any different?
(If
God has spoken to you through this blog, please feel free to share it with
others.)
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