The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. Exodus 12:13 NIV

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 NIV

I was quietly dreading the day, even though it was such a small thing and would be over in a minute or two. Having my blood taken was definitely not my favourite way to start the day. As I was musing upon this upcoming appointment I began thinking about how our blood marks us as individuals. With forensic science in the forefront of criminal investigations these days, blood is often used to identify both victims and offenders. My blood is slightly different from yours and yours is slightly different from everybody else's etc. Blood samples tell both doctors and scientists much about who we are, they identify us.

The blood of Jesus also identifies those who have been freed from their sins by it. It identifies us as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once we were not a people, but now we are the people of God; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9 NIV

Yes, the blood of Jesus is unique. It has the power to wash away a person's sin restoring them back into fellowship with God for eternity. For God so loved the world that he gave 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. John 3:16-17NIV.

This is the true message of Christmas. Christ left his home in glory to make himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant, being made in human form as a babe born in a manger. He lived and grew up among us and then became obedient to death-even death on a cross! He shed his blood as a sacrifice once for all, the Passover Lamb so that all who by faith, believe in Him, his life, his death and his resurrection, would be marked for life; life eternal.

No wonder when the angels appeared to the shepherds they sang "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests." Luke 2:14 NIV

This Christmas season as we set up and view manger scenes in various places and at various times, let us not only remember to be thankful, for the joy of the babe in the manger Emmanuel God with us, but also for the blood of the Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, now and forever more!

Prayer: Father God how we praise and thank you for the blood of the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. This Christmas season may we as your people remember that just as we have received mercy, may we now show mercy to others less fortunate than ourselves. We also ask that through the power of your witness in your children many new souls may be marked for life this Christmas through the power of the blood of the Lamb. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Lynne Phipps
Atlin, BC lynnephipps@hotmail.com