Day 3 - "Blood"

Day Three - "Blood"

“And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for his is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” —Matthew 26:27-28

It’s a strange thing—to offer your blood as a drink. Most of us would prefer to keep our blood inside our bodies, and some even feel faint at the sight of it. But Jesus, holding the Passover wine, tells everyone to drink.

In the physical world, blood is a symbol of life. It flows through our bodies—transporting oxygen and nutrients, fighting infection, and regulating temperature, pH levels, and fluid balance. God told the Israelites:

“Life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls.” (Leviticus 17:11)

At the Passover feast, Jesus references another covenant—one God made with Abraham generations earlier. The covenant resembled an ancient marriage ritual. Typically, both parties would walk between the severed pieces of sacrificed animals. The groom would go first, followed by the father of the bride. The act symbolized a mutual vow: “If I break this covenant, may I become like these animals.”

But in Abraham’s case, God walked through alone. He was the only one to pass between the pieces,
declaring that He would bear the responsibility to keep the covenant—no matter what Abraham did. God’s faithfulness would never depend on human perfection.

Jesus embodied this same truth. As He passed the cup of wine to His disciples and identified it as His blood, He was saying two things:

1. God is still the faithful One—the One who keeps our relationship whole and pure.
2. By drinking this cup, we confess that it is God alone who makes us whole and pure, for all time.

We are invited to receive the benefits of Jesus’ blood. We learn how to love and forgive like God. His sacrifice is precious—and what He desires from us is not more sacrifice, but mercy (Hosea 6:6). Our lives become living testimonies of God’s salvation and covenant-keeping love. His blood flows through our humanity and transforms how we see the world. It reminds us: every life is sacred. Every person is precious. And God has called it all beautiful.

Reflection:
● Do you see your life as precious to God? What would it look like to offer yourself mercy in the same way God does?
● Is there someone to whom you can extend a cup of mercy and forgiveness today?
● Read aloud Psalm 115-118—the hymns Jesus and the disciples likely sang before going to the Garden of Gethsemane. How do these songs sharpen your focus on God’s love, faithfulness and salvation?