WHITE THURSDAY
EXODUS 24 : 1 – 5 : 9 “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.”
There you stand, together with your family, all your acquaintances, and the whole people of Israel. You came together under the brilliant blue sky of the desert, at the foot of the majestic Mount Sinai. Wear cleanly washed white clothes, because that was the order. You are ready for something great, something sacred.
Moses, the man of God, stands before you with a large scale and a brush in his hand. In the scale there is blood – the blood of sacrificial animals slaughtered as a symbol of obedience and worship. You saw it yourself, how the altar smelled after the sacrifice and the blood was collected in the large bowls.
This is a solemn moment. You know that the Lord, the God who freed you and all the people from Egypt, is going to make a covenant with you today. He promises to be your God and you promise to be his people. It is a commitment that you will carry into eternity.
Moses takes the brush and dips thoroughly deep into the bowl with blood. With a serious expression on his face, he sprinkles the blood over you. About you, about your children, about everyone present there. Your cleanly washed white clothes are splashed with red, and even your face is marked with the holy blood of the covenant.
“What is it?” you ask, seeing the red stains on your hands and clothes.
“This,” said Moses solemnly, “is the blood of the covenant which the Lord made with you. It is a sign of his eternal love, his protection and his promise to be with you always. It is a sign of your commitment to Him, and He to you.”
You stand there in the shadow of the mountain, with the blood of the covenant on you. You are not just a people, but a community of believers, a family chosen and blessed by God himself. You are connected by blood, and nothing can separate you from the love and the promises of your God.
A moment to never forget! Something is happening here, something very important, even the children feel it. Now you are connected to the Lord. To that great God who freed you from Egypt. He gave his rules – everyone heard them and agreed to them. He has promised his blessing, He is leading you to the promised land. And you – belong – to – Him. Like there are blood splatters on your clothes. As sacrificial blood flowed. Forever his! What a privilege. What a responsibility too. Something new begins here: a people, completely for the Lord!
THE DISCIPLES
There you sit! As disciples of Jesus, at the table at that last Passover meal with Him. There you sit, as disciples of Jesus, at the Holy Communion table! And what happens? Jesus hands you a cup. A cup of crimson wine, and He says with it: “this is my blood, the blood of the new covenant.” A cup of blood, it is a poignant symbol! Luckily it’s wine. But at the same time: Jesus’ blood. What is it? “This,” says the Lord, “is the blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.”
A moment to never forget, then at that table with Jesus. And it is not forgotten either. Throughout the ages, the followers of Jesus passed the cup, drank from it. Because something is happening here, something has happened, something very important. Jesus’ blood establishes a new covenant. The cup of blood, the cup of wine, says it, just like the blood already at the mountain: you – belong – to – the – Lord! God chose you. He leads you to the promised land. Something new begins: a people of God, gathered from all the nations, to live for Him. And so where you taste the wine, you belong to it! What a privilege, what a responsibility!
Then all at the mountain sacrifices, very valuable sacrifices, were made. But one day, on Calvary, a sacrifice was offered, even greater. Jesus sacrifices Himself for us. To atone for sins, to gather a people, to give a new beginning. His blood seals a new covenant, for all the nations. All who hear God’s promises and agree to them are connected to God. Because Jesus’ blood flowed for us.
SUMMARY
No, we don’t drink blood. No, we don’t get splashes on our white shirt. But blood, it means in the Bible: life. He, the Lord, gave his life. We receive his life, we may drink it in with the wine. Always again, with countless believers around the world tonight. Jesus gave us the Lord’s Supper. He gives us Himself. AMEN
PRAYER: Almighty God, we thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ, He went to extremes through death, committed to You regardless of torture. In Him (Jesus) is Your God – with us, ally and table companion of people. Stay close to us. Keep His dream alive among us, so that we can live in peace with each other, connected to each other by His tortured body on via Dolorosa and His blood shed on the old rough cross. We want to be Your people now and forever. AMEN