The Blood

We don’t talk about the blood of Jesus much anymore, but without the blood there is no forgiveness of sins and we would still be in our sins, separated from our Creator with no hope.  Can you totally comprehend what that means?  In different places in God’s Word, we read about the animals that were sacrificed for sins and they were also offered up to God for thank and peace offerings. These animals were to be without any defects whatsoever, read Leviticus 3:1, “And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.”

The people offered animals for thank and peace offerings as an expression of gratitude and a means of establishing fellowship with God.  The first time we hear about blood being shed was in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned and God killed an innocent animal for a covering of their naked bodies, because that was the first time anyone ever felt shame, which is what sin does to us, plus it has other devastating effects on us.  Blood has been shed for sin since the beginning of time.

Then there was the time that Abraham was tested, when God told him to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him, but in that situation God intervened and provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice because God found him to be faithful; that was another case of innocent blood being shed.  

Then there was the time the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt and the last plague was an innocent lamb being killed and the blood being applied to the top and sides of the doorpost so when the death angel passed over he would see the blood and no one would be harmed in the home because of their obedience and the blood.

Then there was the time when God, because of the rebellion of His people, brought venomous snakes upon them and they cried out to Moses, who in turn cried out to God on their behalf, and God told Moses to build a bronze snake and put it on a pole so when anyone looked up to the snake they would live, even if they were dying.

Now let’s jump ahead to when Jesus was led up a hill called Golgotha and was crucified, died and was buried, and then rose again so when people look to Him with humble, repentant hearts and put their trust in Him they will also live, if they don’t throw away their confidence and end up walking away from the faith they once believed in.

Jesus was also related to as the Lamb of God, read John 1:29-34, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”  

Jesus was also the perfect sacrifice, the innocent for the guilty, but He, unlike the scapegoat that had to give His life for sins, gave His life freely by His own choice for the sins of everyone.  Read John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

This is great news; Jesus, being innocent who never sinned, shed His blood for the guilty for without the shedding of His blood there is, and can be, no forgiveness of sins, praise the Lord for His saving grace!  God’s Word says that we have all sinned and fell short of the glory of God.  The blood of animals was like a covering over of sins, but the blood of Jesus cleansed and washed away our sins and, though they were red like crimson, they become white as snow when they are covered by the blood of Jesus!!  When we repent, which means we truly desire to turn away from our sins and confess our sins, they are gone, to be remembered no more against us, hallelujah, praise the Lord!  That is what the blood of Jesus was for!!

I have given you something to think about and I pray that you will find forgiveness through His precious shed blood that comes from the Lord and experience His perfect peace, love and joy.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!  And don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!