OPINION:
On the night he was to be betrayed, Jesus broke bread with his disciples as part of the Passover celebration.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we read, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”
The Gospel of Luke goes even further, saying: “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”
The Old Covenant was the law given to Moses by God, which he received on Mount Sinai. It was based on obedience.
The New Covenant comes through Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is based on faith. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus himself addresses this issue when he says: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Faith is greater than obedience.
In the Old Testament, we see that Abraham is a man of faith. In Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia, he reminds us, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.”
More than obedience, Abraham had faith in God. How else could the father of Isaac be willing to sacrifice his only son? As a father myself, I would rather give up my own life than sacrifice either of my sons.
No, Abraham had faith that the Lord would provide. When he proved his faith in God, the Lord provided him with a ram to offer as a sacrifice instead of his son.
On the original Good Friday, God offered his one and only son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He died for my sin and yours. As we read in the Gospel of John, God loves us so much that “he gave us his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Paul declares: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
The Old and New Testaments are connected by people of faith.
Thankfully, the story does not end on Friday. By Sunday, Jesus had risen from the grave.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb that day: “The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’”
Forty-six years ago this month, I asked Jesus to come into my heart. I gave him my life and was baptized in my church. I am a sinner. Jesus Christ took away my sin.
Some think of sin in terms of degree. You might tell yourself that you have not hurt anyone or that you do not steal. You still are a sinner — regardless of degree. We are all sinners. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. Only Jesus can do that.
One of my favorite songs includes these lyrics:
“What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
As we remember Good Friday and celebrate Easter Sunday, it is important to realize that there is no way we can earn our way into heaven. It is not about obedience. It is about faith.
Nothing but the blood of Jesus can save us. The good news is that all we have to do is ask him for salvation. He already paid the price.
• Scott Walker is a columnist for The Washington Times. He was the 45th governor of Wisconsin and launched a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He lives in Milwaukee and is the proud owner of a 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King. He can be reached at swalker@washingtontimes.com.
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