Ok, I have probably spent too much time lately looking at the differences between us Christians and not enough time with personal revelation around the red letters. To ameliorate this condition I will try to spend more time reflecting on particular words of Jesus and what they mean to me. Of course along the way I will also have many questions. Some, given my current relation ship with Christ, I will be able to answer but many I will probably have to leave as a question. Let’s get at it.

Let’s start with Jesus talking about dying for our sins.

Matt 26:26-29

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.“ 

Of course the last supper is the most obvious place where Jesus says he will pour out his blood for the forgiveness of sins. He mentioned dying for our sins shortly after Easter.

Luke24:45-47

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scripture and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”  

I think it was up to the early theologians to put down reasons why Jesus had to die. But Jesus did make it clear, at least in these verses, that one of the reasons he came was to die for our sins. But we must also remember how Jesus opened his three year ministry with the following words.

Luke 4:16-21

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoner and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

He came to die for our sins but he also came to show us how to live.