Monthly Archives: March 2018

“I used to think it strange that the Bible keeps talking about the cleansing power of the blood,” admitted the late and renowned surgeon Paul W. Brand.

“It seemed to me that blood was messy stuff. I needed to wash my white lab coats if they became stained with blood,” wrote Dr. Brand in his book God’s Forever Feast. “Today, I love the analogy; it is so true of the body. The blood is constantly cleansing every cell, and washing away all the debris that accumulates all the time. I like Paul’s phrase in Hebrews.³ ‘How much more shall the blood of Christ purge [cleanse] your conscience from dead works?”

Struggle.  Sorrow.  Supplication.  These words describe Jesus in Gethsemane’s garden as Thursday turned into Friday.

The apostles?  Surely they sensed it.  The hour was late.  Much had happened.  The last supper.  Washing feet.  Judas’ departure.  And the ensuing walk across the Kedron valley with Jesus teaching.  Encouraging. Comforting. Promising.