(Ephesians 1:7) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

With the phrase “through His blood”, we discover the key to unlocking the manifold blessing of the cross of Christ. Far too often, although we sing about Jesus shed blood and “plead the blood” in prayer, we miss the depth of its ongoing power as a means of revelation and grace. The shedding of Christ’s blood was necessary for the atonement of the sins of fallen man, but is the element all heaven, earth, and creation has waited for since the fall of man in the Garden (read Romans 8:21-23). The blood of Jesus is the most beautiful thing in this universe outside of the presence of God Himself, among His redeemed children.

Blood is a marvelous creation, concerning its purpose and manner in the body, because it carries ever needed things to all parts of the body. With great amazement we could spend hours speaking of its properties and qualities as it flows through the body. But let it become visible through an open wound and many a man gets SQUEAMISH at its dark red flow. This is because blood belongs in the body, not outside of it. Blood seen means there is a problem and one that can lead to death.

It is quite similar when dealing with the blood of Jesus. Many an unbeliever will discuss the merits of Jesus’ teaching, even pronouncing His life and actions as singularly unique; but begin to discuss Christ’s shed blood and many will become spiritually squeamish. The reason for their “squeamish” response is that they find Jesus’ blood was shed to deal with their sin and that led to His death. Their squeamishness comes from a very uncomfortable grief, and sadly even in many professing Christians who know their sins against God, were the blows making every sector of Jesus’ holy frame weep red and swell purple with bruises unbroken.

In addition to the “squeamish” crowd, there are many who get “SCREAMISH” at the mention of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. These men love their darkness and worldliness rather than light. They love the pleasure of sin and the temporary relief of drinking in worldly escapes, rather than to deal with the sin that separates them from God.  Mentioning the blood of Jesus to these lost men is like the unwelcome awakening of a person from a drug induced haze, where the reality of their life and pain comes rushing back. Talk of the blood of Jesus reveals the practice and thinking of those separated from Christ, as warped. The blood of Christ also reveals God’s righteous judgment coming upon their souls.

The “SCREAMISH” will attempt to stifle blood talk, as they would rather pretend there is no judgment, sin and sing “go in’ down, party time, my friends are gonna be their too”, from AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell”; as they turn eternal punishment into some desirable pagan party spot. God have mercy on them.

The “SCREAMISH” are not only lost men who violently opposed talk of Christ’s blood. The SCREAMISH are also those fallen angels and demonic minions who inspire the lost to hate the blood of Christ. To these malevolent rebellors, the blood of the cross of Christ signifies their own approaching end in the lake of fire. The blood of Christ also proclaims the end of their stolen dominion over humanity. This is why they fight against preaching concerning the blood of Jesus, and scatter to the four winds when the blood of Christ is spoken of in the power of the Spirit of God.

The blood of Jesus is the necessary element God chose to right the wrong perpetrated in the fall of mankind and was His plan before the foundation of the world (I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 13:8). Through the blood of Jesus, we attain four wonderful blessings in Christ

1. We are bought
2. We are off the Hook
3. We attain true peace
4. We are brought.

We will find that the four above blood blessings are the foundation and power of our sanctified life, as we follow Jesus Christ, but why did God choose blood in the first place? This question we will explore in my next post.