January 19: OUR BLOODSTAINED REDEEMER

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:13

We love to speak of the beautiful robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) that is graciously offered to each of us by the Savior. His readiness to forgive our ungodly past, along with His continuing guidance and grace to light our path going forward lays out before us a wide array of divine gifts essential for our journey; priceless gifts woven into the fabric of the robe. What this robe cost the Lord in order to make it available to each of us is a vast subject that we would do well to ponder. Many are deeply touched by the knowledge of the shed blood of Jesus for sin, but they fail to recognize the essential need to walk with Him daily on the well-lit path prepared for each of us. This path leads us out of our sinful habits and toward heavenly perfections. We each need to understand that our own sin cost our Heavenly Father the life of His Son. To gain a clear understanding of my personal contribution to His death, the death that I deserve, should bring with it a budding love and a deep sense of utter gratefulness that opens my heart to receive His divine grace—given as needed—to fuel my journey. But to stop short of traveling according to the Way that He is leading is to trample the Son of God underfoot, count the blood of the covenant…a common thing, and insult the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29 – see also 6:4-6).

Does it seem strange that, as the Lord rides out to retrieve His bride, He wears a bloodstained robe? There may be more than we can understand here, but we can be absolutely certain that He has taken notice of all the bloodshed in our fallen world—from the very first murder—and that nothing will keep Him from setting everything right.

 And [the LORD] said [to Cain], “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10 – see also Revelation 6:9)

Isaiah was given insight into the scenario of the returning Savior: Indeed the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation is coming’… And they shall call them…The Redeemed of the LORD. . . “I who speak in righteousness [am] mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me, For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come… (Isaiah 62:11,12; 63:1b,2-4)

His name is called the Word of God. Christ is the embodiment of the Word that spoke the heavens and the earth into existence. By the power — matchless power! — of that same Word, everything holds together, and by it, fair judgment is certain to be pronounced. His prophetic word will be brought to glorious fulfillment as He comes to deliver every one of His people.

For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made…by the breath of His mouth. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke and it was done. He commanded and it stood fast. The counsel of the LORD stands forever. The plans of His heart to all generations. Psalm 33:4,6,8b,9,11