THE BLOOD OF JESUS
In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of our sins,
according to the riches of His grace.
1 Peter 1:7
The Lord Jesus Christ came on assignment from God the Father to proclaim (announce publicly) the good news about the kingdom of God. He not only came to proclaim the kingdom of God, He also had to give His life as a ransom (price paid to free someone) to purchase the sins of the human race, in order for the human race to enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus opened the way for every human being to spend eternity with God in heaven.
As it is written:
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth wrote the following.
As it is written:
2 Corinthians 5:21
21God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Blood of Jesus...The High Priest
In the writings of the Old Testament, the rituals (sacrificial offering of goats and calves) were old covenant sin offerings which were only temporary. The work of Jesus written in the New Testament is the new covenant for sin, removing sin permanently.
As it is written:
Hebrews 9:11-15
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.
12 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, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.
14 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.
15 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.
As it is written:
Romans 3:24-25
24 And all are justified [made righteous] freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement [reconciliation between sinful people and the holy God], through the shedding of His blood, to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.
The Blood of Jesus Has the Power to Save Souls
As it is written:
Hebrews 9:14
14 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.
Hebrews 13:12
12 So, Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood.
As it is written:
Ephesians 1:7
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.
Ephesians 2:13
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
As it is written:
Romans 5:9
9 Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him.
As it is written:
1 Peter 1:18-19
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish or defect.
As it is written:
Revelation 5:9
9 And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
The Blood of Jesus Allows Us to Come to God's Throne Daily
As it is written:
Hebrews 10:19-22
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh;
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The Blood of Jesus Has Power and Authority Over Satan
As it is written:
Colossians 2:15
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
As it is written:
Hebrews 2:14
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.
As it is written:
Revelation 12:10-11
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God, day and night.
11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
The Blood of Jesus Has Given Believers Power Over Satan's Power
As it is written:
Luke 10:19
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
As it is written:
James 4:7
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist [be against] the devil, and he will flee from you.
The Blood of Jesus Has the Power to Heal
As it is written:
Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Yet it was our sickness that He was bearing, our suffering that He endured. We accounted Him plagued, smitten and afflicted by God;
5 But He was wounded because of our sins, crushed because of our iniquities. He bore the chastisement that made us whole, and by His bruises [blood] we were healed.
As it is written:
I Peter 2:24
24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.
The Blood of Jesus Healed the Lame Man
As it is written:
Acts 3:1-10
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer, at three in the afternoon.
2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.
4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, Look at us.
5 So, the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.
7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
The Blood of Jesus Healed Aeneas Who Was Paralyzed
As it is written:
Acts 9:32-35
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
34 Aeneas, Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat. Immediately Aeneas got up.
35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
The Blood of Jesus Raised Tabitha from The Dead
As it is written:
Acts 9:36-42
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
38 Lydda was near Joppa; so, when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, please come at once.
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, Tabitha, get up. She opened her eyes and seeing Peter she sat up.
41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.
42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
REMEMBERING AND HONORING JESUS
The Jewish nation celebrates Passover in remembering how God brought them out of bondage from the land of Egypt.
In the Gospel of Matthew, and also in the Gospel of Luke are the accounts of the Passover meal that Jesus had with His twelve disciples. At this last Passover meal with His disciples, Jesus introduced the New Testament.
The New Testament was about to take place through His broken body and shed blood. This was His death on the cross, resurrection from the dead, and His return back to heaven.
The Gospel of Matthew Account of the Passover Meal
As it is written:
Matthew 26:26-29
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body.
27 And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.
The Gospel of Luke Account of the Passover Meal
As it is written:
Luke 22:14-20
14 When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table.
15 And He said to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.
17 After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, take this and divide it among you.
18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.
19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, this is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
20 In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, this cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.
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