Because truth has such a transforming effect on the lives of Jesus followers, Satan is always trying to pervert or corrupt it. A great or sad example of that is how he has sought to pervert and twist the wonderful truths regarding the blood of Jesus. There is a whole genre now of movies and T.V. shows that are obsessed with blood,… anyone’s but Jesus’s that is.
I guess that is your right if you work in Hollywood. But to be a disciple of Jesus, you must learn to relish and cherish the blood of Jesus. Jesus made this starkly clear in John 6:53, where He is quoted as saying, “….Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.”
Now we know Jesus did not literally intend for His disciples at that time to drink His blood. But He did literally mean for us to base our whole earthly existence and eternal hope on His precious blood. Christianity is meaningless and worthless apart from the blood of Christ.
In some ways I feel I am just beginning to understand and experience the power of the blood and absolute cleansing from all sin that the blood of Jesus avails to me.
John Newton, the former slave ship master, and then Anglican pastor some time after his conversion, knew something about the preciousness of the blood of Jesus. He said, “This is faith: a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own and relying wholly upon the blood, righteousness and intercession of Jesus.”
So in acknowledgement of Halloween and the extreme celebrations of it re: human blood, I commend to you these wonderful truths about the saving, purifying, cleansing, empowering blood of Jesus:
I. The blood of Jesus was poured out so our sins could be forgiven. Matthew 26:27, 28
II. The blood of Jesus satisfied the justice of God by making an acceptable sacrifice for all those who trust in Him. Romans 3:21-26
III. The blood of Jesus satisfied God’s wrath and saved us from it by making an acceptable sacrifice. Romans 5:9
IV. The blood of Jesus saved and redeemed us from the curse and condemnation of the law. Galatians 3:13
V. The blood of Jesus redeemed us from slavery to sin. Ephesians 1:7
VI. The blood of Jesus has made it possible for Gentile and Jewish believers to walk as one . Ephesians 2:13-16
VII. The blood of Jesus cleanses our consciences to enable us to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:14
VIII. The blood of Jesus gives me boldness and confidence to enter the holy place without fear or condemnation. Hebrews 10:19
IX. The blood of Jesus enables Jesus our Savior and Shepherd to sanctify/set apart His sheep. Hebrews 13:12
X. The blood of Jesus heals us from all the effects of sin including sickness. I Peter 2:24 (cf. Isaiah 53:4,5)
XI. The blood of Jesus enables and empowers us to resist sin, lawlessness and unrighteousness, and thereby to embrace and walk in righteousness and truth – personally and with our brothers and sisters. I John 1:7-9
XII. The blood of Jesus enables us to overcome Satan’s attacks and accusations. Revelation 12:11
XIII. Much of the celebration and worship going on in heaven throughout eternity is because of the wondrous things the blood of Jesus has wrought for sinners. Rev. 7:14-17; Rev. 19:1-18, etc.
Conclusion: Clearly as Moses said in Leviticus 17:11 “life is in the blood” – – “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” The more we see this the more we will learn to pursue being "sprinkled with His blood" as Peter exhorted in I Peter 1:2. Much of what is stated above is a process that requires our daily obedience. The good news is wonderful resources are available to us by the blood of Jesus. But we must daily avail ourselves of those resources.