“The law… can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
“Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
I said, “I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the book.”‘
“When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings..,’ then he added, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will.’ He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:1-10
It was the messy job of priests to keep the law: select the animal, inspect for blemishes, slay for blood. And repeat. Day in and out, morning and evening sacrifice. But when Jesus came, His perfect body became the final sacrifice, His perfect blood our final atonement. How beautiful the body of Christ! The divine, loving hands that tenderly touched the leper and strongly stayed the storm took the nails in crucifixion. (Mark 1:40-42; 4:35-39)
When we approach Jesus, where do we look? On His dusty, travel-toughened feet that carried Him to teach, celebrate, and console? His carpentry-rough hands that put mud on blind eyes, broke bread, and cooled the fevered brow? His arms that held children and served fish to amazed disciples? His mouth that spoke life-altering truth to everyone who would listen? His eyes that cared with mercy, lamented over Jerusalem, wept with Martha and Mary, looked with compassion on Peter, and loved His mother from the cross?
Let us behold, and love, the beautiful body broken for us!
How beautiful the hands that served
The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful
Is the body of Christ
How beautiful the heart that bled
That took all my sin and bore it instead
How beautiful the tender eyes
That choose to forgive and never despise
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful
Is the body of Christ
How beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her groom with his light in her eyes
How beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure lives so that others may live
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful
Is the body of Christ
How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the Earth
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful
Is the body of Christ.” ~Twila Paris (1999)
Lord, make me willing to lay down my life for You who gave Yours.
As the rain and snow 