” it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1)
The blood of Jesus is such a vast subject but absolutely essential for us as Christians to understand. Many churches no longer talk about the blood as they see it as irrelevant or offensive. But Paul said he chose to know nothing among the Corinthians but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Because of that there was a demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power. “For where the blood of Jesus is honoured in faith or in preaching, there the Holy Spirit works” (Andrew Murray 1828-1917).
Paul said that the message of the cross is the power of God “for those who are being saved”. This is not just something that is part of our evangelism, this is something that we as believers need to hear. It is the helmet of our salvation. The message of the blood is not only salvation for the sinner but the source of power for the believer.
The blood of Jesus is throughout the Bible. In Genesis straight after the fall, God covered Adam and Eve with the skin of an animal, showing straight away that the sin of man can only be covered after the shedding of blood. At the end of the Bible in the book of Revelation, the angels worship crying “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” In this passage there is a scroll that is sealed, no one can bring breakthrough. Then John sees the Lamb who breaks open the scroll. Praise God that the blood of Jesus brings breakthrough to impossible situations! The blood brings salvation, healing, deliverance and freedom!
We have to know about the blood. We have to become blood conscious Christians. It runs throughout the Bible. In the temple, everything was sprinkled with blood (showing that the blood needs to applied to every aspect of our lives). In Exodus 29 the priests (a type of the believer) had blood sprinkled on their ear, thumb and big toe. They were then coverered in blood – their clothes, their instruments, everything. Only then were they consecrated, which means declared holy, made clean, set apart for divine service.
The blood of Jesus is described as “Precious”. That means it holds extreme value. We have to faith in the blood. Faith in the blood means knowing what the blood has accomplished. According to scripture there are at least 17 different things that the blood has accomplished – the blood makes atonement, the blood brings forgiveness, the blood justifies, the blood cleanses, the blood makes righteous, the blood redeems, the blood brings freedom, the blood does away with sin, the blood makes holy, the blood makes perfect, the blood brings us near, the blood makes peace, the blood gives confidence, the blood gives victory, the blood gives life, the blood guarantees our covenant, the blood raises the dead!
“He who fights with the blood of Jesus fights with a weapon that can not know defeat. The blood of Jesus: sin dies at it’s presence, death ceases to be death, heavens gates are opened. The blood of Jesus – we shall march on, conquering and to conquer, as long as we trust in its power” – Charles Spurgeon
” By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” (Heb 11)
One thing that we need to know about blood is that blood speaks! God says that the life of a creature is in the blood, and because man is eternal, even when someone dies, their blood still speaks. Blood is an eternal thing in the eyes of God.
The blood of Abel, that was shed right at the dawn of time, still speaks. It still cries out to the Father. The blood of Abel cries out death, murder and revenge. It cries out for justice to be done.
This is a story about two sons. One offering was excepted, the other accepted. The difference was Abel offered a lamb. God always accepts the lamb. He doesn’t accept the works of our hands, but Abel put his faith in the blood of the lamb and that was enough for him to be accepted and find favour with God.
I know another Son. He didn’t just offer a lamb – He was the lamb. He went into the field of life, but he wasn’t murdered, He willingly offered His life. As He died the earth opened up as the rocks split and the ground itself received the blood of the son of God.
Just as surely as the blood of Abel cries out, 2000 years on, the blood of Jesus still cries out to the Father. But the blood of Jesus speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. The blood of Jesus cries out life, mercy and forgiveness. Abels blood cried out for justice to be done. The blood of Jesus cries out that justice has been done!
The blood still speaks. The blood still cries out on our behalf. The blood still cries out “forgiveness” on our behalf to the Father.
At the start of the Jewish year, they celebrate Passover. Everything begins with the lamb. Everything ends with the lamb. He was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world, and on into eternity, the wounds of sacrifical love forever shall remain. In Exodus 12 you read about when the lamb was slain, each family could eat as much as they needed. How much of Jesus do you need? How much grace do you need? Praise God that through Jesus we have an “abundant supply of grace” ((Rom 5v17). However much grace we need – we get it and more! We have more than enough in Jesus.
In verse 7 you read how the Israelites had to apply the blood of the lamb to their doorposts. WE HAVE TO APPLY THE BLOOD. This is a practical message not theoretical. Every issue in your life has been met in the blood, but it has to be applied. We take the blood of Jesus and apply it over our homes, marriages, children, finances, job, church, community etc. When you honour the blood, you demand Gods attention. The precious blood means everything before the throne.
Because of the blood, the children of Israel “passed over”. They exchanged a life of slavery for a life of freedom and a life of poverty to carrying out the riches of Egypt. If that was the power of the blood of a sheep, how much more powerful is the blood of Jesus! The moment it is applied, we pass over! We pass over from darkness into light, from death into life, from hell into heaven. The moment the blood of Jesus is applied a divine exchange takes place:
– He was punished – we are forgiven
– He was wounded – we are healed
– He was made sin – we are made righteouss
– He tasted death – we have eternal life
– He was made poor – we share His abundance
– He was rejected – we have acceptance
– He was forsaken – we are adopted as children of God
– He wore a crown of thorns – we share the kingdom of light
– He was found guilty – we can walk in freedom
– He took the wrath of God – we receive the peace of God
– Our rebellion came on Jesus – His goodness comes on us
– He was made a curse – we receive the blessing
“There is power, power, wonder working power, in the precious blood of the lamb”. Apply the blood today and walk in fulness of joy and victory.
Andrew Murray 