A Tangled Web and a Scarlet Thread

I remember sitting with rapt attention in Mrs. Herbert's second grade class, listening as she read E.B. White's great classic of "Charlotte's Web" It was a riveting story for a child of that age. I was intrigued as the author took a spider of all things, something people are often afraid of, and not usually something barely able to take care of its own life let alone the safety and security of a pig named Wilbur. It was amazing to let your imagination go as Mrs. Herbert read of the death sentence on the Pig and the farm animals scrambling around to figure out what to do, and little Charlotte takes up her web and in the intricate amazing design of her work scrawled out the saying "SOME PIG." Now I know this was a fanciful fictional work, but in some ways it's an allegory. Here we are in a mess a world that is falling apart, with the sentence of death on our lives, it wasn't a spider who wrote a message in a web, but it was a Savior who left His heavenly home and splendor to save us from "death" the wages of sin. In the tangled web of our lives and world runs a theme, not of words and sayings like, "Some Pig" or "Wilbur" but in words of, Freedom by the Scarlet Thread From the tangled web of sin , Forgiveness Purchased by the Scarlet Thread from the acts of sin, TheFulfilment of the Scarlet Thread In Scripture.

What was normally an instrument of death became a life saving device, just as Jesus' death on the cross and instrument of cruel death, became our resurrection and life. Romans 6:23 (KJV)

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The world all around us much like Jericho is headed for destruction, Satan has woven his web of deception, sin and death all around us. We are in serious trouble unless we take advantage of that "Scarlet Thread" that is being hung in our window if you will. Now our scripture calls this a line, that line of scarlet symbolizes the Blood of Jesus and for reference purposes I'd like us this morning to think of that line as a thread that weaves itself all through scripture in a life giving and glorious way.

That "Scarlet Thread" runs all through the scriptures. From cover to cover you will find a bloody trail. From the coats of skin that covered the nakedness of Adam to the animals that are slain by Abel to the spotless lambs of the Levitical priesthood to the blood that was extracted from each lamb and applied to the door post of the Hebrews to the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the World on and on and over again you will see a bloody Gospel. The Bible has said The life of the flesh is in the blood.

Dr. Criswell once preached a Watch Night service message on this theme for five hours, I'm not going to take that long Lord willing this morning, but I do want us to look for a short time at how the blood of Jesus runs through our tangled up, wrecked lives in a marvelous way.

Sin was introduced to humanity in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, we were all cursed, the web of sin was cast and began to do it's deadly work. I don't know how long Adam and Eve lived outside the Garden toiling and working till soon they had a family of two boys. I've always considered each of my children a blessing from God, however every time I've sat there and heard their first little cries I have been burdened by the thought that I have been party to bringing into this world another living soul that is going to spend eternity somewhere. That they are going to make choices and decisions.

That must have been the feeling in Mr. Adam's home those two days when first Cain then Abel were born and life got a little busier, there were messes to clean up, mouths to feed, a home to provide and care for but soon the day came when they could take care of their own homes and needs. We find them tending to their own situations. Abel a shepherd tending his sheep began to feel the need to worship the Lord. He picks out his best and spotless lamb, rounds up several good sized stones to serve as an altar about this time Cain comes by and says Brother what are you doing. Abel says, "I'm going to worship God with a sacrifice." Cain kind of smirks and says, "With your best lamb?" Abel response, "Of course, that is what God wants and all he will accept." The conversation goes on for a while and finally Cain leaves in a huff muttering something under his breath about his do gooder little brother holier than thou self-righteous little Pharisee.

It wasn't too much longer till Cain was back and started to build his altar and brought some of the first-fruits and grain from his gardens and vinyard. Abel was quick to tell him that God wanted a blood sacrifice. Cain's face became beet red but he didn't say anything.

You know the story how Abel began the process cutting the Lamb and arranging it on the altar. He begins to pray and look to God when all of a sudden the heaven's open up, there is a loud clap of thunder and fire comes down and hits the sacrifice, smoke begins to roll and Abel's face just shines. I like how Hebrew's 11:4 words it, "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts…"

It was then as Cain prayed and prayed and prayed and nothing happened the angrier he became and eventually as he looked on and watched his brother enjoying the blessing of the Lord later that day as he worked in the field, he looked around and grabbed a big limb from a tree and made it into a thick club, his anger out of control began beating and yelling at his brother. Soon Abel lay breathless and bleeding profusely on the ground and Cain again regains his senses. He goes and hides the body, tries to cover his dirty work.

As one writer put it once, "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."

Cain eventually did hear from God, but it wasn't in response to his sacrifice, and it wasn't a witness of righteousness, it was judgment and condemnation and punishment, as the questions came fast and furious from God himself Cain was left without a case.

It is interesting in Genesis 4:10 God tells Cain, "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground."

Here we have a blood that is speaking that is talking. That thought sounds strange and perhaps even a little revolting, but if you have ever heard of or looked into forensic science, you find that just a little drop of blood can give a lot of information concerning criminal activity.

Abel's blood cries out for vengeance, for justice for wrong to be made right. Another interesting verse in Hebrews is found in 12:24 where the writer is talking about us coming "to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. "

Jesus takes up that "Scarlet thread" on crucifixion day not only as the crown of thorns were slapped on his head, but as the whip tore into his back and the spear pierced his side there was a fountain opened that day in the house of David for sin and for uncleanness,

"And sinners plunge beneath that flood loose all their guilty stains."

It was a powerful blood shed that day and even though his blood soaked the ground nearly two-thousand years ago His blood is still speaking, that "Scarlet thread" has been carried on by many freeing humanity from the tangled web of sin and death.

Isaac Watts wrote in one of his hymns,

“Blood has a voice to pierce the skies, “Revenge!” the blood of Abel cries;

But what does the "Scarlet Thread" of Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant say?

It speaks of;

Freedom by the Scarlet Thread From the tangled web of sin

Sin's Power Is Lost by the Power of the Blood

Rahab was in a wicked city yet the scarlet line in the window had more power than all the falling rocks and walls. If we are under the blood, we will be kept from free and "He whom the Son sets free is free indeed." Forgiveness Purchased by the Scarlet Thread from the acts of sin,

Sin's Ransom was paid The Fulfilment of the Scarlet Thread In Scripture.

The Scarlet Thread culminates in grand and glorious victorious celebration when those who have overcome all odds will stand and be presented the one who overcame by following this "Scarlet Thread" Rev. 12:11 says, "They overcame him by the Blood of The Lamb." The old dragon did his best but they kept that scarlet thread which has spoken better things than Abel's vengeance and cry for justice it spoke of mercy, and victory, and freedom and forgiveness and grace. They bound it in their window and it brought them through the tangled web of this wicked world to stand in the presence of God on that glorious day.

Yes we are living in a wicked world that is like a tangled web trying to trap us, trying to catch us, as Peter says trying to devour us, But we have a life-line, we have an anchor that goes beyond the veil, we have a hope that goes beyond the grave, we have a Savior who has shed his very life blood and stretched the "Scarlet Thread" of blood throughout time all the way down to us this morning. That blood speaks of Freedom from sin, Forgiveness from the acts of sin, and fulfillment in Christ. It is talking to us this morning and if you don't know that you have been freed, forgiven, and fulfilled in Christ, I want you to know that there is still Power wonder working power in the blood, that His blood will never loose it's power, that His blood still speak peace and pardon into lives today. The mangled tangled web satan has woven for you can be broken by the Power of the Blood this morning. Come and let Him Have his way with you.