Blood is mentioned throughout Scripture, but what does Christ's blood mean to us?
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
"How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." (Hebrews 9:14)
Rahab, the woman spoken to in this passage, was a harlot in the city of Jericho. As the Israelites came to possess the land, her city was destined for destruction — and she along with it. But she was delivered, and her life transformed simply by tying a scarlet cord in her window.
This cord represented the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it pointed toward the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. In fact, all of the Bible is about Jesus Christ and His blood redemption, and you will find this scarlet thread throughout the Word of God.
The Prophesy of the Blood of Jesus
From the very beginning of human history, it is revealed. When Adam and Eve sinned, God shed innocent blood in order to make their clothes from animal skins (Genesis 3:21). This is a picture of the covering of righteousness that we received when the Lord Jesus Christ died for us.
In Genesis 4, we read that Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. They instinctively wanted to worship God. Cain sacrificed the fruit of the ground. Abel had already learned that God demanded blood, so he brought a lamb. God accepted the blood of Abel's lamb, but He did not accept Cain's offering. Why? Because "without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin" (Hebrews 9:22).
And God told Abraham to sacrifice his long-awaited son Isaac (Genesis 22). Just before Abraham plunged the dagger into the quivering heart of his son, an angel stopped him. Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket. Isaac was set free, but an innocent animal's blood was shed instead.
Then, God wanted to deliver His people from bondage in the land of Egypt. On the night of the Passover, God instructed each house to slay a lamb and put the blood on their door. God said in Exodus 12:13, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you."
In the Tabernacle and later in the temple, thousands upon thousands of sheep, oxen, and turtle doves were killed, and their blood spilled as sacrifices for sin.
Finally, the Lord Jesus Christ died upon the cross. His death was the fulfillment of all the prophecies and promises. Revelation 13:8 proclaims that He was slain before the foundation of the world. He came to die; He planned to die; He lived to die; and He was born to die.
As we've seen - the blood of Jesus is throughout Scripture. What does the Blood of Jesus mean for us today?
The Power of the Blood of Jesus
His blood redeems us. There was a price against us that we could not pay, but the blood of Jesus redeemed us. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things.... But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
His blood brings us into fellowship with God. According to Ephesians 2:13, "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Without the blood of Christ, man is a long way from God.
His blood makes peace with God. Man, by nature, is at war with God, and we can only come to God on His peace terms — the blood atonement. The Bible says in Colossians 1:20, "And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself...."
His blood cleanses. Not only does it remove the punishment of sin, but it also removes the pollution. I don't care what sin you've committed; "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7).
His blood gives power over the devil. It's the blood that Satan fears. Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb...." The devil doesn't want you to learn about the blood. He hates it!
Before this planet was ever swung into space, God had determined in His heart that He would send His Son to die upon the cross. How wonderful it is to trace the scarlet thread of the blood of Christ woven throughout the Bible! How much more wonderful it is to experience its redemption personally. Praise God for the blood of His Lamb!
Taken from "The Scarlet Thread through the Bible" by Love Worth Finding Ministries (used by permission).
The Body and the Blood of Christ?
Matthew 26 contains one of the most well-known events in human history and certainly the most famous meal ever eaten, the Last Supper.
As the disciples sat together, Jesus said, "‘Take it and eat it, for this is my body'" (Matthew 26:26).
He then gave thanks, offered them the cup, and said, "‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many'" (Matthew 26:27-28).
Jesus, as He often did, was speaking symbolically. To say He was speaking literally here does not fit with the word pictures He often used. After all, Jesus said He was the Bread of Life. And didn't He say that He was the Door?
So, do we insist that Christ is an actual loaf of bread or a door? Of course not. Nor should we insist that the bread and the cup's contents are Christ's Body and Blood. There is no evidence of a supernatural process that transforms the cup's contents into Jesus' blood and the bread into His flesh.
Therefore, as we participate in Communion, we don't want to mystify what it represents overly. We don't want to think of the bread as flesh and the cup as containing blood.
On the other hand, we don't want to devalue Communion by thinking it means nothing. Clearly, the Scriptures warn us about participating in Communion without recognizing its significance (see 1 Corinthians 11:23-30).
The bread and the cup are not holy elements in and of themselves. But they do represent something very holy. So, with great respect and reverence, we come to the Communion table, recognizing it is a symbol of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross.
Excerpted from "The Lord's Supper" by Harvest Ministries (used by permission).
Bible Verses about the Blood of Jesus
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.
Revelation 12:11 - And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Romans 5:9 - Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Revelation 1:5 - And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
Ephesians 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Acts 20:28 - Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
1 Peter 1:18-19 - Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Further Reading:
Why Is the Blood of Christ Necessary for Holy Living?
What Is Atonement? Biblical Meaning and Definition
What Is the Significance of the Cross?
In Remembrance of the Body and Blood of Christ
Is the Atonement of Christ Unlimited?
What Is the Field of Blood in the Bible?
Does Deconstruction Have Penal Substitutionary Atonement All Wrong?
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