“By His Blood” 2020 Lent devotion #36
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)
Are you afraid of death? Who isn’t? Even those who say they aren’t afraid of death do things that promote and preserve life. They don’t eat the moldy leftovers in the refrigerator. They don’t walk out into the traffic of a busy street. They buy guns to defend themselves. They buy life insurance policies. They elect sheriffs.
How many of our behaviors are driven by our mortality? Why is eating healthy, getting enough sleep, taking vitamins, having access to clean water and medical care so important to us? Because we value life and want to avoid death.
Jesus became flesh and blood and shares in our humanity. So he had to eat, drink and sleep. He needed care as an infant. He needed to work. He occasionally had to evade those who sought his death. He did all this to be and stay alive.
But Jesus also became flesh and blood to die and break the power of him who holds the power of death, the devil. Once you die and come back to life, death is no longer a threat. It no longer controls you. In our place, Jesus died and rose, paving a path for us. If that is truly my future, death and even the fear of death doesn’t control or guide me. He does. And just like that, the devil has lost his power over me.
What a gift!
Thank you, Lord for becoming like me to give me the freedom to live! Amen.
Waite for it... 