THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
The Blood of Christ, referred to as the Most Precious Blood, holds profound significance in Christian theology. It represents not only the literal blood-shed by Jesus on the Cross but also the sacramental blood found in the Eucharist. Christians believe that this sacramental blood is intimately connected to the blood Jesus shed for humanity’s redemption.
In the Old Testament, the concept of atonement through blood is established with animal sacrifices.
for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.
( Leviticus 17: 11 )
These sacrifices served as a temporary means to cleanse sin, but they were ultimately insufficient for complete redemption. The New Testament reveals that true restoration came through the sacrifice of Christ, the Son of God.
With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. ( Hebrews 9 : 12 -13 )
Unlike the blood of animals, which could not fully redeem, the blood of Christ offers a lasting solution to the curse upon mankind. Through His sacrifice, Jesus initiated a new covenant, promising salvation and eternal life to all who believe. His blood is seen as the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the Old Testament laws and paving the way for a deeper relationship between God and humanity.
The Significance of The Blood of Christ
Jesus’ blood is central to the redemption of our sins. His blood was pure and sinless, making redemption possible. Despite being born of a woman, Jesus was without sin in both spirit and actions, so His blood is pure and unblemished.
Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. ( Hebrews 9: 14 )
Jesus shed His blood to redeem many people, and so His blood is Holy. During the Holy Mass, the blood of Jesus is honored in the communion.
for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.( Matthew 26: 28 )
And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. ( Mark 14: 24 )
When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?( 1 Corinthians 10: 16 )
When a soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, both blood and water flowed out.
One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.( John 19: 34 )
Jesus’s sacrifice gave forgiviness for the sins, and through Jesus’ death on the cross, peace was established.
and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.( Colossians 1: 20 )
i)The Preserving Blood of Christ
The theme of preserving blood is powerfully illustrated in the Passover story, where the Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a lamb and smear its blood on their doorposts. This act was a divine command from God, and it had profound implications for their safety.
But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
( Exodus 12: 13)
The blood marked their homes, ensuring that the angel of death would pass over them, sparing them from destruction. This event serves as a profound metaphor for the blood of Christ. Just as the Israelites were protected by the blood of the lamb, we, too, are safeguarded through the sinless blood of Christ. Our salvation is not contingent upon our righteousness or good works but solely on the acceptance of His sacrifice.
This highlights that the blood of Christ cleanses us completely, liberating us from the burden of sin.
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. ( 1 John 1: 7 )
It’s crucial to understand that the destructive angel did not spare the Israelites based on their righteousness or spirituality. Their deliverance was based on the visible sign of obedience—the blood on the doorposts. In the same way, believers today are not saved by their own merits but through the sacrificial blood of Jesus, which grants us eternal life. Just as the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from physical death, the blood of Christ protects us from the second death, which is spiritual separation from God.
Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.
( Revelation 20: 14 )
Here it warns about the second death, but for those who are in Christ, there is no fear. His blood shields us, ensuring that we are safe from the ultimate destruction brought by sin and Satan.
ii) The Purifying Blood of Christ
The purifying blood of Christ is a central theme in Christian faith, offering profound hope and cleansing from sin.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
( Ephesians 1: 7 )
This powerful declaration emphasizes that no matter the nature or extent of our sin—whether intentional or unintentional—His blood has the power to cleanse us completely. Also the blood of Christ not only cleanses our actions but also purifies our hearts and minds.
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.( 1 Peter 1: 18 -19 )
It is essential to recognize that no amount of water, soap, or earthly cleansing agent can wash away the stains of sin. The guilt and shame we carry cannot be removed through human effort. Instead, the blood of Jesus stands alone as the sufficient means of atonement and purification. It serves as a fountain opened at Calvary, pouring forth grace and redemption for all who believe.
Whenever we stumble and sin, we are called to confess our shortcomings to Jesus.
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
( 1 John 1: 9 )
This promise assures us that no sin is too great or too small to be covered by His blood.
iii) The Redemptive Power of Christ’s Precious Blood
The blood of Jesus is precious and we have been redeemed not by silver or gold, but by His very blood. This powerful truth reveals that our salvation comes at a great cost—one that surpasses any earthly treasure. Through His blood, Jesus has freed us from the bondage of sin and the devil, offering us a path to redemption.
He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
( Revelation 1: 6 )
And they sang a new song with these words:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.( Revelation 5: 9 )
It emphasize that His sacrifice was for people of every language, race, and background, demonstrating the universal scope of His grace. There is no redemption without the shedding of blood. This highlights the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice and its profound significance in our lives.
iv)The Eternal Significance of Christ’s Blood
In the ancient covenant, the blood of sacrificial animals was sprinkled as a powerful act of atonement and dedication. This practice foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ, whose blood not only fulfills the old covenant but establishes a new and perfect one.
s The New Covenant: Perfect and Flawless
The new covenant, as confirmed through Christ’s sacrificial death, is described as perfect and flawless.
Now may the God of peace
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood ( Hebrews 13: 20 )
Jesus as the “great shepherd of the sheep,” whose blood seals the eternal covenant. Through His death on the cross, He established a new way for humanity to be reconciled to God.
V). The Legal Power of the Blood
Because of the covenant I made with you,
sealed with blood,
I will free your prisoners
from death in a waterless dungeon ( Zechariah 9: 11 )
We see the promise that God will “bring the captives out of the waterless pits” because of the legal power of Christ’s blood. This blood serves as a legal basis for our redemption.
Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead.( Hebrews 9: 16 )
It states that the death of the lawgiver confirms the law. The death of Christ not only fulfills the law but also perfects the new age of grace.
s The Sprinkling of Blood
We are redeemed by the “sprinkled blood” of Jesus, which speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. In the Old Testament, blood was sprinkled in four significant instances, each mirroring the work of Christ.
You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel ( Hebrews 12: 24 )
1. The Covenant:
The blood was sprinkled when the covenant was made. In the same way, the blood of Jesus was sprinkled upon the new covenant, sealing our relationship with God.
2. The People:
When the Israelites entered into the covenant, the blood was sprinkled on them.
Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.” ( Exodus 24: 8 )
Similarly, we are sanctified by the blood of Jesus, marking our commitment to Him.
God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
May God give you more and more grace and peace
( 1 Peter 1: 2 )
3. The Tabernacle Equipment:
Blood was sprinkled on the items set apart for God’s service . Likewise, our bodies, as temples of the Holy Spirit are also sprinkled with the blood of Christ, signifying our dedication to God.
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
( 1 Corinthians 6: 19 )
4.Cleansing from Leprosy:
In the Old Testament, blood was sprinkled to signify the cleansing from leprosy, a metaphor for sin.
The priest will then sprinkle the blood of the dead bird seven times on the person being purified of the skin disease. When the priest has purified the person, he will release the live bird in the open field to fly away.
( Leviticus 14: 7 )
In Christ, the blood signifies that our sins, which are worse than leprosy, have been removed and cleansed.
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. ( 1 John 1: 7 )
VI. The Power of Christ’ Blood: A Path to God
Sin separated us from God, but the blood of Jesus brings us back. This is rebirth.
s From Darkness to Light
Jesus’ sacrifice allows us to be near Him again. His blood cleanses us and opens the way to a new life in His kingdom.
But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. ( Ephesians 2: 1 )
s Sanctification Through Sacrifice
Jesus’ blood sanctifies us, meaning it makes us holy and set apart for God.
Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.( Hebrews 10: 29 )
Jesus’ blood not only cleanses us but also calls us to honor it. Those who treat the blood of Christ as unclean will face judgment. This emphasizes the importance of respecting the sacrifice He made for us.
VII. The Beneficial Power of Christ’s Blood
The blood of Christ is not just a symbol; it carries immense power and benefits for believers. It justifies, protects, and forgives, making us righteous before God. Abel offered the best sacrifice to God, demonstrating true worship. His blood cried out to God after his death, highlighting the importance of righteous offerings
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.( Hebrews 10: 24 )
This shows how valuable blood is in the eyes of God and how it speaks of righteousness.
s Protection from Evil
The blood of Christ speaks against the destructive power of Satan. It protects believers from his traps and empowers us to live righteously.
And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses— 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.( 1 John 5: 6 -8 )
When we rely on the blood of Jesus, we stand firm against the enemy’s schemes.
s Forgiveness and Advocacy
When Satan presents our sins before God, the blood of Jesus washes them away. His sacrifice forgives us completely. When believers confess their sins, the blood silences the accuser, allowing us to stand blameless before God. Jesus stands by our side, ready to fight for us.
Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save[a] those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.( Hebrews 7: 2 )
VIII. The Blood Of Christ That Gives Victory
The blood of Jesus offers us victory over the devil. It is a powerful reminder that we can triumph over sin and guilt.
s Overcoming by His Blood
When Satan tries to bring us down with guilt, we can stand strong through our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice.
Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. ( Hebrews 7: 25 )
s Cleansed and Blessed
When we embrace the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood, we are blessed.
And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in[a] the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. ( Revelation 7: 14 )
It states that those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb will be purified and made worthy to enter heaven. Those who are cleansed will gain access to eternal life.
Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.
( Revelation 22: 14 )