It’s In The Blood
Sunday, August 7th, 2011
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and
tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Matthew 28:10
Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father;
but go to My brethren and say to them,
‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
John 20:17
A couple weeks ago, we saw that Jesus calls us “servants” and “friends” and what special relationships these are. As I was reading in my devotions this week, I came across these passages where Jesus calls us His brothers! It really spoke to me – this is an even more intimate and special relationship. Why or how?
Because it is a BLOOD relationship! Brothers are related by blood. It is the blood that makes this a unique relationship. Sure, brothers can be friends and they can even be servants to one another. But friends and servants cannot be brothers in the true sense of the word, unless there is a blood relationship.
So consider what it means when Jesus calls us “My brethren” – what is the blood relationship that we have with Him? Ahh, we have a glorious relationship with Jesus based on blood that was shed at the Cross! We are Jesus’ brethren based on His blood, which was poured out for our salvation! In fact, not only do we have this blood relationship with Jesus, but with all believers of all countries and all ages!
The apostles Paul and Peter and John are my brethren. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, the Wesleys, George Mueller, Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis and Billy Graham are my brethren. Believers throughout the world are my brethren. You are my brethren. All because of this unique blood relationship we have with Jesus! So consider what the author of Hebrews wrote…
For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one,
for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:
“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
Hebrews 2.11-12
David Pham