April 15, 2026

Today's Reading: Exodus 24:1-18

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 24:1-18; Luke 5:1-16

“And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.’” (Exodus 24:8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Why talk about the blood of the covenant during Easter? That’s how the people of Israel could approach God. They were sinners, and God is holy. God cannot dwell where unholy sin is. So He instructed Moses to cover them in the blood of the covenant that their sins would be covered. And all God’s people said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Amen.

The sacrifice must not have taken. Those sinners did not do all that the Lord has spoken, and they were not obedient. Neither have we. We deal with the same rebellious streak that the people of Israel did. God is still holy, and we are still sinners. God cannot dwell where unholy sin is.

So God provides the sacrifice, His Son, His only Son, whom He loved, Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus takes the sins of our sinful, rebellious idolatry, becomes that sinful rebellious idolatry, and covers them in His blood of the New covenant poured out on the cross as the once and final sacrifice. The people of Israel received the blood, heard the words and promises of God, and, while imperfectly trusting in them, God is merciful. He forgives, He gives life, and He saves them from themselves, their enemies, death, all of it. God does it all by the blood, and proclaims in the life-giving promise of the One who would shed His blood for the sins of the whole world.

The Blood of Jesus satisfies the Law's demands, and God’s wrath dies with Jesus the crucified. Where all sin dies. God raises His Son from the dead, bearing the marks of His once for all sacrifice that all would believe and be made sons and daughters of the King who took His throne of the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven to His Father’s right hand. That His blood would be on us and all the people, and that by it we would have life in the One who died.

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ! I have comfort even stronger: Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice. Should a guilty conscience seize me Since my Baptism did release me In a dear forgiving flood, Sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood? (LSB 594:2)