An everlasting covenant

Bible Reading - Mark 14:2-26

At a wedding, the bride and groom pledge their faithfulness to each other before God and witnesses. They promise to stay together “for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part”. What a serious commitment that is! In God’s eyes, the wedding vow is a covenant between a man and a woman that is binding for life and more intimate than any other relationship.

Christ has also made a marriage covenant with the Church. The Bible likens our relationship with Christ to that between a husband and wife (Ephesians 5:25-27) and encourages us to look forward to the day when we will have a glorious wedding with Christ (Revelation 19:7). This covenant that Christ has established with us is also known as the New Covenant.

The New Covenant is built on Jesus’ blood. As Jesus observed His last Passover with His disciples, Jesus prophesied that His body would be broken and His blood spilled for many (v22-24). Traditionally, the Passover commemorated God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Many years ago, when God punished the Egyptians with a plague that killed the firstborn son of every household, He spared the Israelites because their doors were marked by the blood of an unblemished lamb (Exodus 12:1-14). Just as the blood of the lamb marked the Israelites as God’s people and ensured their deliverance, the untainted blood of Jesus seals us as God’s beloved and secures our salvation.

The Passover has great significance for Christians today because Jesus has redefined it as a reminder of the new, everlasting covenant He has made with us. The covenant is a reliable assurance of His constant presence. It is a rock-solid promise that we will receive the blessings and privileges as His chosen people if we continue to live according to His ways.

Every Christian experiences seasons of ups and downs in the journey of faith. In every season, remember Jesus’ everlasting covenant with us. He wants us to have joy in Him, be comforted by His presence and draw strength from Him.

Another term for the Passover meal that we use more often today is the Holy Communion. The next time you take the Holy Communion during a service or Life Group meeting, pause and reflect on its meaning. How does Jesus’ covenant with the Church add courage to you in your faith journey? Will you fulfil your part of the covenant today?

As you spend time on the couch with God, take a moment to pray and reflect on what you've read.