Week 4 in Review

That’s a wrap on week 4 of the Bible Reading Challenge/Calling. How are you doing with it? I’d love to hear from you. I am loving it and have really enjoyed learning from people how they’re doing the reading in their lives. One of the ways I’m getting the reading into my schedule is a group of a few of us at work are doing the reading together on our coffee break, it’s going great!

There is so much in Matthew it’s hard to pick one thing that stood out. A portion though that I just love is:

So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” —Matthew 27:24-25

The people of the crowd were fully committed to putting Jesus, an innocent man, to death. So much so that they were even proud to have the guilt of his blood not just on themselves but even on their children.

But just like the story of Joseph in Genesis, we find that what man intended for evil, God meant for good. The crowd was crying out for (and deserved) guilt, but what they received was salvation and mercy. Christ’s blood was on them and on their children, even their children’s children, but not in the way they expected.

How great is our God!

Nothing but the Blood

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my cleansing this my plea--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, 'tis all of grace--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

This is all my hope and peace--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!