The
Hebrew writer exhorted his readers to “consider him that
endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be
wearied and faint in your minds.”
In chapter twelve and verse four of Hebrews the writer tells
his readers, “you have
not resisted unto blood” where we read:
You have
not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin..
The
verse begins, “You have not yet resisted unto blood,”.
The writer began with the words,
“You have not yet”
which means “the Hebrew writer's readers had not hitherto or at
this point” “resisted”
or “stood against, resisted or been place in opposition” “unto
blood” which means “to
bloodshed by violence, slaying or murder”. The readers of Hebrews
had not yet encountered the great price of “bloodshed” that Jesus
endured on behalf of people.
The
verse continues, “...striving against sin”. The
writer added the word, “striving” or
“agonizing, struggling and fighting” “against”
which means “towards and with regard to” “sin” or
“the missing of the mark, offense, error or mistake”. Jesus'
“agonizing and struggle” was in opposition to “sin”
and the effects it had upon mankind.
When
we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we understand how the writer
is showing the superiority of Jesus' sacrifice for his readers over
what they have “endured” at this point in their lives.
Jesus “stood against and resisted” opposition to the extent of
“shedding His blood” not only in His torture, but also in His
death on the cross. He had one idea and purpose in mind - “the
salvation of people”. Without Jesus in our lives, we are lost and
without eternal hope, and Jesus saw that as more than ample reason to
“resist unto blood” on our behalf. May all who read these
words realize the extent God, who created the Universe, went to have
them in fellowship with Him.
Next
time the writer shares how his readers “have
forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto”
them “as unto children”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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