The Heart that is Consecrated

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover (Luke 22:7-13).

Jesus was attentive to and in control of every detail in the preparation of the Passover meal, including the selection, security, and set up of the precious upper room. After all, this was the meal that highlighted the power of the blood of the Lamb of God… “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Christ was soon to fulfill Passover’s deepest meaning by completing the true destiny of the Lamb of God… “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus chose and consecrated an ordinary room that would be transformed into a sacred place. Today we see that just as Jesus carefully set apart this upper room for His holy purpose, He also procures, protects, and propels the heart that is consecrated.

The consecrated heart is procured by Christ. The reason for the Old testament sacrificial lamb was to provide blood that would identify and deliver God’s children, the Israelites, from the deadly consequence of Egypt’s sin… “For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you” (Exodus 12:23). Just as the Lord responded to the faith of the children of Israel, Jesus Christ, our Passover lamb sees the receptive heart’s faith, provides atonement for our sin, redeems us from spiritual death, and consecrates us to His service… “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

The consecrated heart is protected by Christ. Jesus made sure that Judas, who had already conspired with the religious leaders to betray Jesus, could not act before this important Passover meal. By concealing his name and identifying the owner of the upper room only as… a man carrying a jar of water, Jesus protected the revelation of His fulfillment of this feast from the intrusion of His enemies. In the same way, Jesus guards the heart that is consecrated to Him… “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). True disciples are comforted by the truth that the blood of Christ protects and keeps our heart holy as we journey through this hostile world toward our glorious home in heaven… “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

The consecrated heart is propelled by Christ. The blood of the Passover lamb freed the Israelite family to pack up and leave the familiar world and culture of the Egyptians. They were instructed to prepare for a journey toward a new land of promise by removing all leaven from their homes. In the same way, the blood of Christ our Passover lamb cleanses our heart from sin and propels us into a set apart life of sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and service as we grow in holiness and approach our eternal home in heaven… “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (Jude 1:24).

As we grow up into Christ, He is always gracefully working in us to nurture and grow…

The Heart that is Consecrated.