Blood

Hebrews 9:22

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

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How long?
How long must we sing this song?
How long?
How long?

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2

Purified in the blood. That's the way of the Old Testament. Blood Atonement is also a way for Mormons. In fact, when Utah legalized death penalty again in 1976, the first execution was of Gary Gilmore who chose firing squad over hanging in accordance with the Mormon concept of blood atonement.

The lamb of God, this is one of the titles Jesus is known by. He was the paschal lamb slaughtered for the sins of creation. He was the paschal lamb whose blood makes all clean again.

The U2 song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" isn't exactly based on the Bloody Sunday of 1920 or of 1972, it is based on both and on so much more. It's the lament of a man crying "How much violence must we endure? How much violence must we inflict? How long must this continue? How long must we sing this song? How long?"

In a world where sin lives and breathes, the answer to this question is forever. But in the world of the resurrection, in a world where Jesus has won victory over the grave, it happens bit by bit. Bono knew this writing this song, he sings:

The real battle yet began
To claim the victory Jesus won on...
Sunday, Bloody Sunday

The battle is won in Christ. What we have to do now is believe it and start living like it.