Come Home to the Cross by Anne Wilsonਨਮੂਨਾ

He Let the Blood and Water Flow

As you read today’s devotional, meditate on John 19:34 - “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”

The Apostle John recorded many of Jesus’ “I AM” statements, such as I AM: the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, and the Resurrection and the Life. Jesus also taught during His ministry that He is the Living Water. Students of the Old Testament know that the Lord gave Moses a sneak peek as to the importance of His blood in Leviticus 17:11: “...the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”

While Our Saviour was born in the flesh (of the blood), He was also fully God and offers us His Living Water, which forever extinguishes the fire of our rebellion and quenches our soul with goodness and mercy.

Jesus felt His humanity profoundly, even though He had the foresight only God could have. He knew one of His closest friends, Peter would betray Him; several could not even stay awake and pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His faithful inner circle would scatter when He was arrested.

We might not experience this level of disappointment in our relationships, but we still feel let down when people break promises or break our hearts. We start to feel unloved and unimportant, and when this becomes a pattern, we lose trust in humanity. Thank you, Jesus, that You never did!

A popular Christian teaching instructs that if you wonder how much Jesus loves you, you can look at His outstretched arms on the Cross that declare: “This much!” Jesus paid every last drop of His blood, followed by the Living Water that flowed from His side, representing cleansing, new life, and His everlasting presence.

Whenever we struggle with trust, we can remember the sacrifice of Jesus proves His faithfulness, and His promises are sure. People disappoint, but Jesus never does; when He was lifted up, He showed us He will never let us down. His love is constant, and His commitment is unshakable. When we feel forgotten or hurt by others, we can find comfort knowing that Jesus never leaves our side, and He will always keep His promises!

Reflective Questions:

• Have you ever felt let down by a friend’s broken promises? How has that affected your ability to trust or rely on others?
• How does Jesus’ selfless sacrifice challenge or encourage you to view trust and faithfulness in your current relationships?
• When you encounter hurt from broken commitments, how can reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus help you to rebuild trust?

Prayer: Lord, thank you that we never have to second guess your faithfulness. Even though I face uncertainty and distrust in my earthly relationships, I never have any reason to doubt Your promises. You have shown me time and again that I can depend on You and You alone. Thank You that you went to the cross willingly, and never hesitated for a second to endure suffering to bring us salvation. Lord, I love You and I am so grateful for Your sacrifice. I pray all of this in Your holy name. Amen!