THE BLOOD OF JESUS

The Gospel of John begins by telling us Jesus is God!  In verse 1:1, "the Word was God," and in verse 1:14, "the Word became flesh!"  In verses 1:29 and 1:36, Jesus, having become a human being, is described as "the Lamb of God."  John called Jesus "the Lamb" because He had come to "take away the sin of the world" (v. 29)!  In other words, Jesus came to die for humanity, and because His sacrifice was pictured in the killing of the Passover Lamb (Ex. 12:1-11), Jesus is called "our Passover" (1 Cor. 5:7)!

The Passover Lamb had its blood removed for two reasons; 1) the blood would serve as a sign to God, that those living in the house where the door posts were covered by it, belonged to Him; and 2) the Jews were not permitted to eat an animal that did not have its blood removed.  The animal had to be dead prior to preparing it for a meal, and because the life of the animal is in its blood, removing the blood insured all that it was dead (Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:11; Deut. 12:16).  As Christians, we do not literally drink Christ's blood, nor eat His body, but our symbolic act serves to proclaim His death until He returns (Jn. 6:53-56; 1 Cor. 11:26).

During the suffering of Christ, His blood was poured out for the same reason:  to prove He died.  Jesus began shedding His divine blood with a scourging, and a crown of thorns that was beaten down upon His head (Mt. 27:26-30; Mk. 15:15-19; Jn. 19:1-2).  He again bled when He was nailed to the cross through His hands and feet (Mt. 27:35; Mk. 15:24; Lk. 23:33; Jn. 19:18; 20:25).  Finally, the blood of Jesus was shed when one of the soldiers pierced His heart with his spear, and "water and blood" poured out (Jn. 19:34).

Here are just seven of the reasons why the shedding of His blood is important to us:

*   It is not by our works, but by His blood that we are saved (Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 10:19).
*   It is a covenant between God and His born again children (Mt. 26:28; Heb. 13:20).
*   It purchased/redeemed God's children (Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).
*   It allows a just and righteous God to forgive sinners (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22).
*   It is the means by which sinners are cleansed of their sin (1 Jn. 1:7; Rev. 1:5).
*   It is the means by which God justifies us (Rom. 3:24-25; 5:9).
*   It is the means by which God makes His children perfect (Heb. 13:20-21).

You know the value of something by what someone is willing to pay for it;

God was willing to pay for our salvation with the blood of His only begotten Son!

Thanks be to God!!!!!!!