2016年2月29日
血緣命脈 Lifeblood
读经: 希伯來書9章19-28節
Reading: Hebrews 9:19-28
若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。-希伯來書9章22節
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22
全年读经: 民數記20-22章;馬可福音7章1-13節
Bible in a Year: Numbers 20–22; Mark 7:1-13
瑪利安相信上帝和祂的兒子耶穌，但她百思不解，為什麼耶穌要以流血的方式帶來救贖。有誰會用血來洗淨物品呢？然而，聖經上說：「按著律法，凡物差不多都是用血潔淨的」 （希伯來書9章22節） 。對瑪利安而言，用血來潔淨東西讓她感到很不舒服。
有一天，瑪利安必須到醫院就診，因為基因的問題影響了她的免疫系統，醫生診斷後，驚覺病原已開始侵入她的血液。瑪利安在急診室裡不禁想到：如果我失血過多，就必死無疑；但耶穌流血，卻能讓我存活！
瑪利安頓時恍然大悟，領會到箇中道理。讓她在病痛中，也能感到喜樂與平安。她深知血就是生命，要先有聖潔的生命才能使我們與上帝復和。如今，她已大病痊癒，她感謝上帝賜給她健康，以及耶穌為她流血犧牲。
希伯來書9章說明了舊約用血潔淨的儀式所代表的意義 （16-22節） ，耶穌一次把自己獻上為祭，從此就不再需要以牲畜來獻祭 （23-26節） 。為了承擔我們的罪，耶穌甘願流血捨命，為我們犧牲，讓我們有信心進入上帝的國。我們滿心感謝耶穌，因祂代替我們犧牲，付出生命讓我們得到新生命，讓祂的父成為我們的父。
主，我感謝祢賜下耶穌，讓祂的寶血為我流。
我要為祢而活，一生都稱謝祢。
基督的寶血洗淨我們所有的罪。
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Mary Ann believed in God and His Son Jesus, but she struggled with why Jesus had to shed His blood to bring salvation. Who would think of cleansing something with blood? Yet the Bible says, "The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood" (Heb. 9:22). That, in Mary Ann's opinion, was disgusting!
Then one day she had to go to a hospital. A genetic condition had altered her immune system, and doctors became alarmed when the illness started attacking her blood. As she was in the emergency room she thought, If I lose my blood, I will die. But Jesus shed His blood so I can live!
Suddenly everything made sense. In the midst of her pain, Mary Ann felt joy and peace. She understood that blood is life, and a holy life was needed to make peace with God for us. Today she is alive and well, thanking God for her health and for Jesus' sacrifice on her behalf.
Hebrews 9 explains the meaning of the Old Testament blood ritual (vv. 16-22) and the once and for all offering of Jesus that brought animal sacrifice to an end (vv. 23-26). Bearing our sin, He willingly died and shed His blood to become our sacrifice. We now have confidence to enter God's presence. How could we ever thank Jesus enough for making His sacrifice our sacrifice, His life our life, and His Father our Father?
Lord, I thank You for Jesus and for the shedding of His blood for me. I want to live my life in gratitude to You.
The blood of Christ washes away our sins.