1 Peter 1:18-20 (Revised Standard Version)

 18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

20 He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake.

Have you ever planned a trip or event that was a ways off in the future; maybe a wedding, a major anniversary, an expensive trip?  If you have then you know how many little details are involved in getting everything just right.  The cost, the timing, involving the right people, getting everything just right is important.

 Based on what Peter writes, God had a major event planned for a long time, or as this scripture says, even “before he laid the foundation of the world.”“precious blood”  The plan was to send Jesus to shed his so that you and I could be saved. 

 Notice that this scripture says, “He was destined before the foundation of the world.”  God understood human beings so well that he knew we would sin and need to be redeemed so he put a plan in place that would take care of it. Jesus prayed just before his arrest, trial and murder, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39).  The answer to that request had to be, “No” because sin is so bad that the highest price had to be paid for it.

 Once this plan was in place it was so solid an unchangeable that the Hebrew writer says, “His (that is Jesus’) works were finished from the foundation of the world” (Hebrews 4:3).  If we were to be saved God knew the price that would have to be paid and was willing to do just that.  No changing or backing out was possible.

 The next thing we find is that he knew just when this should be done.  Paul tells us in Romans 5:6, “For while we were still weak, AT THE RIGHT TIME Christ died for the ungodly.”  When the time was right, when all things were perfectly aligned, God acted on our behalf. 

 The picture that the scriptures paint is one of an all-knowing and loving God who was well aware that we would sin and need redemption.  There was nothing valuable enough to pay the price for redemption except the precious blood of his Son.  Therefore, he sent Jesus in the flesh.  The price was paid.

 In the communion we share a time of looking back to that sacrifice with thankful hearts that God loved us enough to give his only begotten son so that we need not perish but have eternal life.  We can truly share the thought with the Apostle John, “See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1).  It was:

1. A love that was preplanned
2. A love that came at the right time
3. A love willing to pay the highest price possible for our redemption
4. A love that allowed us to be called children of God

 Let us contemplate these thoughts as we partake of the communion.