Nothing but the blood...

I really grappled on what to write on from the past weeks sermon.  (So sorry this is late) There is so much packed into Chapter 15! God used DJ to wrestle into me this message about the covenant.  The tradition of sacrificing animals and walking between the bloodied halves of the animals, sealing a deal (forever). God used DJ to wrestle into me this message about the blood. How this blood was a symbol of the blood that was to be shed, the most precious blood of Jesus. God used DJ to wrestle into me this message about the blood covenant. About the God who has bound Himself to Abraham and His descendants like the blood that ties families together.  

The scene before Abraham must have been so gruesome.  Blood everywhere! Remember a few seasons ago, memorial day weekend we sang "nothing but the blood of Jesus"? As we sang that song together it was like you could use every sense to experience the blood that was covering the houseboats. The chorus of the song rang in my ears a few times while listening to this sermon this past week.  As DJ shares, covenants are usually between 2  parties, the animals are cut in 2 and the parties walk together between the bloody carcass.  Again, blood everywhere! When DJ said the phrase "Did you realize Abraham was a bystander?" I had a Keanu Reeves moment of… WOAH?!? (from his 1991 critically acclaimed film "Point Break").  Nothing of Abraham guarantees the covenant?! WOAH?!? (from "The Matrix" 1999, "The Matrix Reloaded" 2003 and "The Matrix Revolutions" 2003)  God was the one making the covenant! It is "on" God to uphold His end to the covenant. WOAH?!? (basically from every Keanu Reeves movie from 1984-2016)

1.    What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

o    Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Click to see the entire lyrics.

Looking forward to hearing this weeks sermon!