Whitening Work of the Cross

Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18

      Lent is welcomed by a blanket of white in Minnesota. Steeples rise out of the pure white landscape like a conquering hero of the latest storm. Atop the steeple stands our battle standard – the symbol of victory – a snow covered cross!

Lent in Israel 2,000 years ago probably looked more red than white to the casual observer. Every drop of Jesus’ blood as he climbed up Calvary's hill was for our sin. Every blow of the whip was our sin tearing into our Savior. Every moan of agony was our sin afflicting great pain. Every halting step was our sin weighing Him down. Every crimson drop of blood was our sin killing the perfect Son of God. Our sin left a crimson stain.

     But our sin was not the only power taking effect on the first Good Friday. Jesus died to turn red to white. Every blow of the whip was our Savior giving His body for us. Every moan of agony was our Savior removing the power of sin. Every halting step was our Savior taking our burdens away. Every crimson drop of blood was our Savior turning our sins to white. Our Savior washed it white as snow.

     155 years ago, Elvina Hall stood in her church’s choir loft. As her Methodist prayed lengthily, she was scribbling on a page of her hymnal. Here are two of the four verses she wrote:

Yea, nothing good have I, Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white, In the blood of Calvary’s lamb

And now complete in Him, My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ‘neath His side, I am divinely blest.

     Elvina’s scribbles found their way into the hands of her church organist. He composed the music for the song we now know as “Jesus Paid It All.” Editors since have added the familiar chorus:

Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

     What color surrounds you this winter. Is it the “crimson stain” or the “garments white”? When you look at the cross, do you only see your sin or do you also see your Savior? As another hymn poetically asks:

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

Are you washed in the blood
In the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

      I pray that you can know whitening work of the cross this Lenten season.

                        Washed in the blood,       Pastor Matthew