“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord.  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  No longer shall they teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

 John 12:20-33

The Israelite people were very familiar with the idea of a covenant. God had entered into covenants with the Israelites through many people, including Moses, Noah, Abraham, Adam and more.

In the past, the Israelites had to obey God's laws by obeying their side of the covenant agreement. If they broke their side of the agreement, they would have to pay for their sins in the form of a sacrifice of some kind.

The prophet Jeremiah claimed that God would soon make a new covenant with the people of Israel. When this new covenant is made, the law would be in their minds and written on their hearts.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, inaugurated this new covenant that Jeremiah speaks about. This new covenant was not about merely obeying God's laws; it gave God's people access to a personal relationship with God.

This new covenant was so expansive and inclusive that "all will know God, from the least to the greatest."

Unfortunately, God's people still turn away from God and do not honour their relationship with Jesus. Still, they do not have to make sacrifices as they used to when they broke the old covenant because Jesus has already voluntarily made the greatest sacrifice on behalf of all of humanity.

This is the good news of the gospel - that because of Jesus' sacrifice, God "will forgive our wickedness and will remember our sins no more."

Spend some time today in gratitude to God for what God has done in and through Jesus for you. 

Reflections by Rev Joe Taylor

 Lord Jesus, 
Thank you that you willingly journeyed to the cross and died so that we do not suffer the consequences of sin and death. Thank you for entering into a covenant with us so that we may experience a life-giving relationship with you today. I love you, and I offer my life for your service.
Amen. 

Visit our website