GREAT BIBLE WORDS
THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
John 19:31-35
John 19:31-35
Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Introduction:
Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 23- His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”
Jesus was hanged on a tree and therefore, cursed of God for our sins. The Jewish law require that a man hanged on a tree must be buried before sunset the same day. Pilate ordered the soldiers to break the legs of those who were crucified in order to hasten their death.
On arrival at the sight the soldiers found that Jesus was already dead and did not break his bones, Psalm 34:20, “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.” However, one of the soldiers was not convenced and thrust a spear into his side, Zechariah 12:10b, “and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced.”
Blood and water poured out the side of the Lord Jesus. The spear had penetrated the first membrane around the heart callled the PERICARDIUM which contains a watery substance. The spear continued piercing the heart itself from which came the blood. NOW THERE WAS NO DOUBT!! JESUS WAS DEAD! Everyone present saw it. They were eyewitnesses that Jesus died on the Cross.
If there had been no other injury the spear thrust would have killed Him. Now the Sadducees who did not believer in the resurrection, could not make the people believe that Jesus was in a coma and not dead. The resurrection is one of the greatest proofs that Jesus was the Son of God.
Jesus shed His blood because the life is in the blood, Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
The blood of Christ is the ground, or basis, for many precious blessings:
1. It is the basis for the blessing of PROPITIATION: that which turns away the wrath of God, Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
2. It is the basis for our JUSTIFICATION, Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
3. It is the basis of our PEACE with God, Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
4. It is the basis for our BEING BROUGHT NIGH to God, Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
5. It is the basis for our REDEMPTION and FORGIVENESS OF SIN, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
6. It is the basis for our SANCTIFICATION, Hebrews 13:12, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”
7. It is the basis for our being CLEANSED FROM SIN, 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
8. It is the basis for our VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL, Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”