Our worship leader asked us to listen to this song: The Blood. As I listened I remembered thinking, as a new believer, how freaky it was singing, “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Or when the priest, as he presented the wine, would say, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it: This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.” (You may notice in my examples, two different church experiences. I have attended or belonged to a quite a few denominations.) As a seasoned believer I understand the beauty, meaning, and power of the blood of Jesus. But maybe you think it’s freaky, so let’s look at what the Bible says.

The Old Testament Sacrifice

For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you. In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood. According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬ (& Exodus 24:3-8)

For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭17‬:‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Blood was used for the atonement of sins and to establish covenants. But what does the word atonement mean? “The Hebrew word for atonement, kippur, means two things: to repay a debt and to purify.” (The Bible Project).

And what is a covenant? “In a literal sense, a covenant means a binding agreement, a legal contract. It is a seal between two or more parties. In a biblical sense, the word covenant derives from the same root word meaning “to cut.” This means that in the culture of the Bible, covenant carried weight and was often cut, or sealed, in blood.” (FIRM Israel).

I’m going to be honest with you. There are so many scriptures on this subject that I am having trouble getting to the point I was trying to make. So, let’s look at my title, The Lamb of God, and what that means and who that refers to.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

John the Baptist reveals that Jesus is the one who will take away our sins, He is God’s sacrificial lamb.

And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.

They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬, ‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice of His lifeblood, atonement—kippur—has been made. Our debt is paid, we have been purified. This is the beauty, meaning, and power of the blood of Jesus.

This is just a mere glance at the scriptures relating to this topic, but know this, there is power in His blood; power to redeem your life and bring you into God’s grace.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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