Living Manna

Apostle Paul refers to Jesus’ blood as the power of God and wisdom. Apostle Peter says that Jesus’ blood is the precious blood. It cannot be compared to diamonds or precious gems, nothing futile or foolish can be compared to the blood of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament they used the blood of goats, lambs, sheep or heifer but that did not last. However, Hebrews 10:10-14 says that the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood is eternal.

Why is Jesus’ blood precious?

First, only Jesus’ blood atones for all mankind.
It is not only because of the great sacrifice and the horrible death on the cross but first it is because Jesus is God Himself and He is without sin (Heb 4:15).

Second, it is because there is something very significant contained in Jesus’ death. Jesus, the Son of God, came down from Heaven to take up the cross. We need to understand the reason and the process through which He came to the cross, how He ministered, how He taught the Word, and how He proclaimed the Word Adam rejected. He came to give us back that Word, that is the sovereignty of God. However, people just followed because He performed miracles that fed and healed them.

The blood of Jesus and His death on the cross atones for us. Hebrews 9:22 tells us there is no forgiveness without shedding of blood. Leviticus 17:11 says that inside the blood that atones is life. In Hebrew, the word “life” is nephesh. In the Septuagint it is “psuche”. Psuche means the very essence of who He is and Jesus is the sovereign Word that Adam rejected. It can also be translated as mind or heart.

Jesus spoke 7 messages as He shed His blood on the cross for 6 hours from 9am to 3pm. For the first 3 hours from 9am to 12noon, there is light and He spoke 3 messages from light. From noon the sun lost its light and it was pitch dark and He spoke the last 4 messages in darkness toward 3pm. The 6 hours and 7 messages are like the 6 days of creation in Genesis and the 7 times God said “He saw and it was good.” Through this God fulfills it.

This has a very close relationship because Genesis’ account of the 6 day creation and the 7 messages on the cross resulted in Adam who is the one who has the breath of God, the spirit of God. Now because mankind fell, Jesus comes as the 2nd Adam and does the work of recreation throughout His ministry but on the cross He is telling us to do it. Through the 6 hours He spoke 7 messages of recreating, after He resurrects He breathes on His disciples and says “Receive the Holy Spirit. You go now.” So He is redeeming us through the cross.

Let us think of the 7 messages briefly.

(1) The prayer of forgiveness (Luke 23:34)

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” He did not just say it once but He continued saying this while the Roman soldiers drove the nails through His hands and feet, and as the 2 criminals hurled abuses at Him. And until today I believe Jesus is saying this on the right hand of God’s throne whilst looking at us. Without forgiveness His work of redemption cannot begin and His work of salvation and the crucifixion will mean nothing.

On the first day of creation, God created light. The whole world was covered with darkness, the light, Jesus, the Lord of creation (Jn 1:1) came to save us. When the light shines, separation takes place. Those who accepts that light becomes light. Those who don’t, stays as darkness. Jesus gave us the Word of life, which is forgiveness. The light taking away the darkness is forgiveness. This was why Jesus came and was crucified.

(2) The Promise of Paradise (Luke 23:43)

Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” At first both sinners were hurling abuses at Jesus, but suddenly one criminal defended Jesus and said, “Remember me when you enter your kingdom,” Jesus through His forgiveness, shone light and that one thief received the light.

This criminal realized that unless this Man is God who came to forgive and save us, why else would He be forgiving the ones killing Him right now?

On Day 2 of Creation, God created the expanse that separated the waters above and the waters below the expanse. To this thief who repented, Jesus gave him the promise of Paradise, the place above the expanse. The other criminal will go down below if he does not repent.

(3) Woman, behold your Son (John 19:26)

Jesus looks at his mother and says “Woman, behold your son.” He called her ‘woman’ and not ‘mother’. Then He asked His beloved disciple John to take care of His mother.

Why did Jesus not call Mary as ‘mother’? Because for the first 3 hours, Jesus was speaking from His divine position, from the authority of God in heaven, He is granting forgiveness which is something only God can do, and He is granting the promise of Paradise which only God has the authority to do.

Then He said, “Behold your Son”. Son means seed. Jesus is proclaiming that He is the seed of the woman who was promised. On Day 3 of creation, God separates sea waters from the earth/land. In Revelation 17, the waters of the sea represent peoples, nations, tongues, the waters upon which the harlot sits, the sinfulness of this world is something that when the flowing of sins are taken out, there appears land upon which seed can grow and bear fruit. It is the condition of the heart.

In Mary’s heart there was the separation. Now He is revealing who the true Seed is (Luke 8:11). Jesus is the seed that was promised. Jesus is revealing His divinity showing that He is the Messiah.

After that there is complete darkness.

(4) Eli Eli Lama Sabacthani (Matthew 27:46)

Many heretical scholars say that Jesus failed at this point here, because God’s spirit left Him. The spirit of God never forsook Jesus. When Jesus prayed to God, He referred to God as “Father” but it is very strange that He now refers to God as “My God”.

We need to understand the Genesis account first. In Genesis 1, Day 1 God creates light and separates light from darkness, Day 2 God created the expanse and separates waters above and below, Day 3 God created trees and separates sea waters from land. However from Days 4 to 6 it seems to be a repetition relationship. Day 4 God created the sun to govern the day (light) and the moon and the stars for the night (darkness) to fill Day one’s creation. So, days 1, 2, 3 correlates to days 4, 5, 6. There is a pattern and repetition.

Likewise, the 1st message is about forgiveness and the 4th message is about the one who is unforgiven. That means Jesus is not speaking from the position of God with authority, but Jesus came down to pray on behalf of the fallen sinner who did not repent.

(5) I thirst (John 19:28)

John 4:14, 7:37-39, Jesus had said I am the water of life, those who thirst come to Me, and waters of life will flow out of Me but now Jesus says, “I thirst.”. However, Jesus was crying out on behalf of those who are thirsty spiritually because they did not receive the Word, and do not have the Holy Spirit. In John 7:39 that water is referring to the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not only saving those who come to Him, but giving a chance to those who don’t know Him.

(6) It is finished (John 19:30)

Just as God created man on Day 6, Jesus now reaches out to both types of people. He first gave forgiveness, then the promise of the kingdom of heaven, and now He is seeking for forgiveness and the promise of Paradise and the Holy Spirit for the unbelievers. When we receive the assurance of the kingdom of God as a result of receiving His Word, then salvation and redemption is finished.

(7) Father into Your hands I commit My spirit (Luke 23:46)

Just as God rested on Day 7 after creating all things, Jesus is now resting peacefully. Jesus through the 7 messages grants true peace and Sabbath to those who receive the power of His Word.

Let us experience the power of forgiveness and receive that forgiveness, and receive the power of the Holy Spirit and the promise of the kingdom of heaven. Let us receive the blessing of being able to see Him, believe in Him, and understand His divinity. After receiving that power, Jesus says, “Now I send you as the Father has sent Me. Receive the Holy Spirit.” We need to go and forgive. We need to proclaim the Word so that people can receive forgiveness through Jesus, so that people can receive the Holy Spirit and can come to believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ.

AMEN