This week we’re celebrating the last Passover meal with Jesus and His disciples.

Moments after my daughter and her best friend walked in the door from school, we heard a loud crash

– the crash of a car hitting a brick wall. Realizing it might be one of their high school friends, they

wanted to check it out. I told them to avoid getting in the way of first responders and see if there was

anything practical we could do. Minutes later the girls came in carrying the bloody clothes of two boys

from their school. The girls told me, “No mom needs to see these clothes. We thought it would be good

for you to wash them.”

So, I proceeded to pre-soak the clothes (wondering if all that blood would ever come out). For some

insane reason, while the clothes were pre-soaking, I decided to lift the lid and peek in. The water was

blood red – not pinkish – but blood red. I fell to the floor and prayed for the boys, whose lifeblood was

swirling in my washer, and for their parents who were getting unpleasant phone calls.

As I remember the blood that those two high school boys gave unwillingly in that accident, I think today

of the One who gave His blood willingly almost 2000 years ago.

In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, we read that: “The life of a creature is in the blood” (Leviticus

17:11). No creature has life if there is no blood. In those days, animals were sacrificed for the sins of the

people. But when Jesus came, everything changed.

“For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled,

sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ . . . cleanse our

consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:13-14)

“it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed . . . but with the

precious blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Although we want to blame Herod, Pilate, the Jews, Judas, and who knows whom all for Jesus’ death,

we have to accept the stunning truth that he gave His life willingly!

“No one takes it [My life] from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.” (John 10:18)

Reflect on the fact that the blood of Christ was offered willingly – for you! And be in awe of that gift

each time you hear the words, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you

drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25).

By Judy Shrout