The Significance of a Shed

The other day I made a significant discovery while walking in the woods. There in the trail lay a buck’s shed antler from earlier this year. It is remarkable that I found it in such great shape, as there appeared to be hardly any evidence of the chewing of rodents. Deer will shed their antlers so they can grow a new set each year. With this being the case, it’s not really a loss for the buck, because it leads to new growth with a new pair of antlers. There is something bigger and better that will come as a result of what he shed.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ shed his blood and He lost his life. However, that was not the end of the matter. Not only was Jesus raised from the dead, but the blood that He shed led to some great things.  As He was instituting the Lord’s Supper on the night of his betrayal, He said “for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Mt. 26:28, KJV). As the writer of Hebrews reflected on the Old Law, he says “…without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22). The forgiveness of our sins was only made possible by the shedding of Christ’s blood.

Another thing that was much more significant was what the blood of Jesus bought. When Paul was giving his farewell address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus, he said the church was purchased with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). The institution that we are a part of today as members of the body of Christ was bought with blood. Even as Peter says that we were redeemed by “…precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:19).

The shedding of Christ’s blood is something that we need constant reminders of, for it is of the utmost significance for the Christian who is the recipient of the cleansing effects of His blood and a citizen of God’s household, the church. The next time I see a shed antler I’ll be reminded by what came about as a result of the shedding of the blood of Jesus.

What did the gasoline pouring out of my car cost me?

We cry over many types of liquid that have been spilled or poured out of containers accidentally: spilled milk (as the saying goes), grape juice on carpets (why do you think we have crimson carpet in the church building?) and other types of mishaps of the liquidy kind. Most of these at worst only cost us a stain with which we must deal.

Recently I was pumping my gas as I always do. I started the pump by inserting my debit card, locked the handle of the pump and went inside to get a SunDrop while my car was being fueled. After talking to a few people I knew, I was about to pay for my drink when somebody said "that car just overflowed with gas." Fear set in as I realized it was my car. Never in my life have I had that happen, nor had I seen it happen. In embarassment, I rushed to the car, but thankfully someone had already stopped it for me. I looked at how much gas had been pumped, and let's just say it pumped out about another eight plus gallons onto the concrete pad at the gas pumps. That little mishap with the gasoline pouring out of my gas tank cost me about $25 more than I would have spent otherwise. Let's just say I'll not be leaving my car unattended at the gas pumps anymore as the sign does say "do not leave car unattended while fueling." This was like throwing away money in the trash can, though the price could have been a heftier penalty if someone hadn't been gracious enough to shut off my pump.

It reminds me of another time when precious fluid was poured out at a much higher cost than my gasoline. Jesus, when instituting the Lord's Supper, said "this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many" (Mk. 14:24). Paul said to the Ephesian elders that Christ purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). The Hebrews writer said "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22). The picture in the original language is a pouring out of blood. Christ paid for our sins with the ultimate outpouring - His blood!

Thanks be to God that we can't put a quantitative price on the sacrifice that His Son gave for us. The outpouring of gas at the gas station was cleaned up with the oil spill and the rest evaporated from the heat. However, the blood of Jesus still continues the cleanse the child of God who walks in the light (1 Jn. 1:7). Do you need to take advantage of the blood of Christ?