Broken and Bleeding

Words meant to be remembered.  Painting a picture almost impossible to comprehend.  Spoken with such intent that generations would remember them and speak them as they joined together.

The good news...the "how" of and incredible "what," the new covenant described through the words of the prophets...

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

The fulfillment of words He breathed Himself, displayed in the crack of unleavened bread and sip of red wine.  Body and blood signing the signature on the new covenant.

The body broken for us:

for the healing of all sickness and disease that afflict us...

for the wounds inflicted by others...

for the sorrows of a world growing under the weight of sin...

for the freedom of the captives held by injustice...

The blood poured out for us:

for our sin...the darkness found within...

the blood covers the sin...even the sin we are unwilling to see.

Yes, the eucharist has been explained, dissected.  But is it felt?

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus.  God putting on flesh that would be broken, and drained.

What can I say?  I'm begging that this would drench me and sink in deeply.  God fought for me, even though a dark season makes it hard to believe.  And even when I struggle to believe it, I choose to declare it over myself and those around me.  This is the gospel.

So I take the bread and as I chew... I remember that new life was forged as He was being beaten.

And I drink the wine...I remember that forgiveness is signed in His blood.