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If the battle against evil in any way depended on us, we would be destined for defeat. That\u2019s why the heart of the Christian message is not about empowerment or encouragement. It\u2019s about substitution. In the battle against our greatest enemies, we are spectators rather than participants. This week we see Jesus go head to head with the old and, more importantly, natural\u2014approach to religion. Our default assumption is that our relationship with God is a quid pro quo arrangement. We do our part; he does his. Instead, Jesus came to establish a new covenant, one in which God\u2019s favor and forgiveness are completely free. Jesus established this new covenant with his death. He delivers its blessings with his meal.