The Blood of the Covenant + Holy Thursday

This episode of Good Shepherd LCMS Boise explores the theological significance of the covenant in Christian Scripture, focusing on the transition from the Old Covenant of Exodus 24 to the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. Drawing from Matthew 26:17–30 and Exodus 24, the sermon unpacks how God initiates covenants through divine action—delivering Israel from Egypt and later sending His Son to redeem all humanity. The ritual of blood in the Old Covenant, where Moses splashed blood on the people to ratify the agreement, is contrasted with the ultimate fulfillment in Christ’s sacrifice: His body and blood given and shed on the cross, ratified in Holy Communion. The speaker emphasizes that this New Covenant is not symbolic but real—Christ is truly present in the elements, offering forgiveness, life, and eternal inheritance. The sermon also defends the practice of closed communion, arguing that participation in the covenant requires doctrinal unity, mirroring the Israelites’ unified response at Sinai: 'All that the Lord has spoken, we will do.' The episode culminates in a profound meditation on Holy Thursday, linking the Last Supper to the eternal reality of Christ’s intercession and the ongoing proclamation of His death until His return. The message is one of deep assurance: through the blood of the covenant, believers are marked as God’s people, strengthened in faith, and assured of eternal life. The tone is reverent, celebratory, and deeply rooted in Lutheran theology, emphasizing grace, divine initiative, and the real presence of Christ in the sacrament.