August 18, 2017 “Blood”

Blood

Blood is precious for it contains the mysteries of life.
Almost any visit to the physician’s office will involve taking samples of blood for study.  Each drop of blood contains volumes of information about the heart, lungs, digestive track, and any abnormalities or infections.  After diagnosis and treatment, the blood is tested again, this time to seek good news of recovery and a return to normality.  Without the constant coursing of blood to muscles and organs, to the brain and even inside the bones, there is no life in the body.Very early on in the Bible, the Word of God makes the purpose of  blood clear, centuries before science discovered it.

The Mystery of Forgiveness of Sins
Just as blood is essential to life, the shedding of blood is essential to the forgiveness of sin.  Sin is a destroyer of life.  There was no death until there was sin.  Sin is also a different kind of death: the separation of the sinner from a righteous God.  Sin always forms a barrier between the human spirit, soul, and body, and the God who created them.  The only solution for sin is the spilling of life’s blood—death for the sin. I cannot explain this fully; I accept in on faith.

The Old Covenant Mystery
Under the Old Covenant, the blood of a perfect, innocent animal was the payment for sin.  The New Testament makes it clear that there was no real power of forgiveness, rebirth, and restoration in the blood of animals.  In His amazing grace, God accepted this substitute for the blood of the sinner demanded by his or her sins.  He could do this without violating His own inherent holiness because one day the Final Lamb would go up to die on the final altar.  This one would not be in the Temple, not be made of stone, and not be administered by an earthly priest nor be slain by the hand of man.  This Final Lamb would be freely given over to death on a Roman cross, an appropriate representation of the sins of all mankind.  His name would be Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Our New Covenant Mystery
Since ancient times Friday has been the day of the week when set aside time to consider the cross of Jesus.  We cannot do so without imagining the blood of Christ.  First drawn by the Roman lash, then by the thorns in a mocking crown, and finally by iron nails pounded through His hands and feet and the Roman spear thrust into His side, the blood of Jesus flowed freely that day.  His human life spilled to the ground and splashed on His torturers and on the onlookers standing by.  The effect of that blood on His enemies had little effect, just an unpleasant stain to be cleaned away at the first opportunity.

However, down through time, His blood has spilled and splashed on us.  Because we reach for Jesus to save us, rather than to harm Him more or to stand by and simply watch the “tragedy” unfold, His blood has great and eternal effect on us.  We are forgiven!  The sin barrier between us and our Creator is broken.  The heavenly record of sins written by our name is expunged and the sinless record of Jesus inscribed in its place.  You see, this is the New Covenant in His blood:

• real forgiveness,
• real rebirth,
• a real relationship with God, and
• real life restored.

Today, let us draw near to the cross.  The blood of Jesus is precious; it contains the solution to for life’s mysteries.  His life still flows.  As the old song says, “The blood has never lost its power, no never!”

Scriptures:
Leviticus 17:10-12 NKJV
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
Hebrews 9:11-15; 10:1-4; 19-22
When Christ came as high priest …. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. … How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!  For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.  If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.  But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God …
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I cannot imagine Your suffering at the end of Your earthly life. To think of Your innocent blood flowing from those wounds to my sins, sorrows, and sicknesses is beyond my mental capacity to understand. I believe it; I believe it with all my heart. There is no other solution to our sins, no other remedy for our sicknesses, and no other comfort for our grief. Each of us who had turned to You for forgiveness has found it. Along with forgiveness we have found health and healing! “Oh, the Blood has never lost its power! No Never!” Amen and amen.

Song:
The Blood Has Never Lost Its Power
Words and Music: Mrs. C.H. Morris

1. In the misty days of yore
Jesus’ precious blood had pow’r
E’en the thief upon the cross to save;
Like a bird his spirit flies
To its home in Paradise,
Thro’ the pow’r of Calv’ry’s crimson wave.

Refrain:
And the blood has never lost its pow’r,
No, never, no, never,
Jesus’ blood avails for sin forever,
And will never lose its pow’r.

2. I was lost and stepped in guilt,
But the blood for sinners spilt
Wash’d away my sins and set me free;
Now and evermore the same,
Praise, O praise his holy name!
Will the cleansing stream availing be.

Refrain

3. God in mercy asks you why,
Brother sinner, will you die
When such full redemption he provides?
You have but to look and live,
Life eternal he will give,
For the pow’r of Calv’ry still abides.

Refrain

4. Bring your burdens, come today,
Turn from all your sins away,
He can fully save and sanctify;
From the wrath to come now flee,
Let your name recorded be
With the blood-washed, and redeem’d on high.

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved