An End To Blood Sacrifice
As we celebrate Easter, it's time to remember that the Ultimate Sacrifice has already been made.
Today is Easter Sunday in the West. Celebrated by Catholic, Protestant, and Non-Denominational Churches, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s perhaps the most beautiful of all Christian holidays. And, along with Christmas and Mother’s Day, is one of the “Big Three” events of super-high church attendance.
This writer had the privilege of enjoying two services this weekend: Good Friday at the Baptist Church and Easter Sunday with the Methodists. Friday’s service was quite somber, yet tasteful. Sunday’s was, fittingly enough, bright, festive, and joyful.
Both experiences serve as bookends for the story of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ: The Son of God who suffered tremendously and was eventually crucified. His resurrection, three days later, served to redeem mankind. And displayed Christ’s victory over death, hell, and the grave.
For most Christians, the crucifixion of Christ marked the end of blood sacrifice. This is because the blood of Jesus is all that is needed to redeem one from sin. Inside the Chrisitan religion, there is no need to slaughter any living thing to attain forgiveness, atonement, or purification. All of that was accomplished on the cross by Christ himself.
Yet, in our current world, the blood sacrifices continue.
We see the ongoing slaughter of tens of thousands of people inside Gaza. This includes men, women, children, and animals. These horrific acts were preceded by the sacrifice of over a thousand individuals inside Israel. All of which occurred against the backdrop of bloody Ukraine, where an estimated 500,000 people have been killed or wounded due to NATO’s proxy war with Russia.
Even battlefields and war zones cannot contain the bloodshed. Horrific acts of terror, such as the Crossus City Hall attack in Moscow, continue to claim the lives of hundreds of innocent people. The deaths of these people are completely unnecessary. Yet they continue, unabated.
So why is this happening? Some would say it’s because the world is an evil place. Or that the heart of man is corrupt. While there is truth to both statements, the real answer to the question is much more disturbing: Many of the sacrifices we see in the world occur because we allow them to happen.
In the name of the status quo. In the name of not offending our employers. In the name of maintaining our standard of living. In the name of keeping our heads down and hoping not to draw attention to ourselves. In the name of all of these things we remain silent, and happily allow the shedding of innocent blood to continue. All while pretending it’s not happening.
This kind of apathy is a dangerous thing. To sit back and turn a blind eye to needless death and destruction callouses the soul. It’s also an afront to God Himself. By allowing endless acts of mass murder to continue, both at home and abroad, we essentially nullify the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And, in effect, say to God that Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t good enough. If you believe otherwise, it’s time for action.
Our Western governments proclaim themselves to be representative of the people. Therefore, if those governments are engaging in wanton acts of criminality, it is our duty to steer them in the right direction. To be blunt, this isn’t a time to sit on our asses and wait for someone else to come to the rescue. As believers, we are to be bold and fearless in our personal conduct. And as Westerners, we have a responsibility to make sure our governments behave in accordance to the desires of the people.
As such, it’s time to remind them that the Ultimate Sacrifice has already been made. We have been redeemed through the blood of Christ. And we don’t need the blood of any other innocents to be spilled.
Happy Easter. -K