And as they were eating, [Jesus] took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”
—Mark 14:22
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
—John 12:24
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
—John 13:35
...knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
—1 Peter 1:18-19
...be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
—2 Peter 3:14b
A loving parent doesn't give children damaged or spoiled food. And it's not just a matter of appearances.
I am grateful for this morning's breakfast, that gives strength for the day's tasks. More than that, nutrients and molecules and atoms from that meal will over time literally become part of my body.
For the believer, as for the Israelites in the wilderness, every part of “our daily bread” is an opportunity for gratitude to the One who gives “all good gifts”. Every day begins as an undamaged opportunity to live as part of His body, to respect His body. And—it should go without saying—not to damage it.
The Passover lamb and and the sacrifices to consecrate the priests and the sacrifices of “peace offering” were to be “without blemish”. The same word describes Noah before the flood and appears in the Lord's call to Aram. The concept involves much more than appearances and cosmetics; it includes wholeness and completeness and health.
Jesus came and lived an undamaged life, set an undamaged example of perfect compliance with and conformance to the Father's will. Then gave it up, so that it could be planted to produce fruit. And John's account of that last Passover night includes the command that Jesus gave, for them to love, giving that as the sign of discipleship and membership in His body. And He prayed for all who would believe through the testimony of that night's witnesses.
Peter's plea to be “found...without spot or blemish” is plural, not singular. It isn't about individual appearances, but about diligence—taking pains—to avoid damage to the body.
Undamaged
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
—Psalm 23:5
Your lamb shall be without blemish...
—Exodus 12:5
And as they were eating, [Jesus] took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”
—Mark 14:22
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
—John 12:24
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
—John 13:35
...knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
—1 Peter 1:18-19
...be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
—2 Peter 3:14b
A loving parent doesn't give children damaged or spoiled food. And it's not just a matter of appearances.
I am grateful for this morning's breakfast, that gives strength for the day's tasks. More than that, nutrients and molecules and atoms from that meal will over time literally become part of my body.
For the believer, as for the Israelites in the wilderness, every part of “our daily bread” is an opportunity for gratitude to the One who gives “all good gifts”. Every day begins as an undamaged opportunity to live as part of His body, to respect His body. And—it should go without saying—not to damage it.
The Passover lamb and and the sacrifices to consecrate the priests and the sacrifices of “peace offering” were to be “without blemish”. The same word describes Noah before the flood and appears in the Lord's call to Aram. The concept involves much more than appearances and cosmetics; it includes wholeness and completeness and health.
Jesus came and lived an undamaged life, set an undamaged example of perfect compliance with and conformance to the Father's will. Then gave it up, so that it could be planted to produce fruit. And John's account of that last Passover night includes the command that Jesus gave, for them to love, giving that as the sign of discipleship and membership in His body. And He prayed for all who would believe through the testimony of that night's witnesses.
Peter's plea to be “found...without spot or blemish” is plural, not singular. It isn't about individual appearances, but about diligence—taking pains—to avoid damage to the body.
The one that Jesus bought and brought alive.