Chris Campbell

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Beloved in the body of Christ,

Today's readings remind us of the cost that was paid by Christ for our lives. Psalm 49 first reminds us how high this price is, and that it's value could only be paid by God.

We can never ransom ourselves,
or deliver to God the price of our life;

For the ransom of our life is so great,
that we should never have enough to pay it…

Yet this high price for our lives does not mean that we are without hope, for as the Psalmist continues:

But God will ransom my life;
He will snatch me from the grasp of death.

And so He has, through the sacrifice of His only Son. As our Epistle explains this price has been paid once for our lives, and through this sin has been dealt with.

So now what do we do? What is our purpose in this world now that Jesus' blood has been spilled and sin defeated? Jesus tells us in today's Gospel:

Listen.

Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.

Listen.

Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Listen.

Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Our purpose is clear: to listen to and follow the Word of God. It is only God who can, and has, ransomed our lives. Now it is up to us to listen to the Word and not follow death as our shepherd. Our hope lies in taking what is freely given to us: The life which Christ has paid for with his suffering and purified with his blood.

...Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

May you live in Truth, Peace, and Love,
—Chris Campbell