16 June 2020
The Blood of Jesus
“The
blood of Jesus, by which He has ransomed and redeemed us (Acts 20:28; Romans
3:24–25; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Revelation 1:8–9; 5:9), justifies us
before God the Father (Romans 5:9), cleanses us from all impurity (Hebrews
9:14; 1 John 1:7), and makes us holy (Hebrews 10:29; 13:12). Jesus gives us
that blood to drink in Holy Communion (Matthew 26:27–28). There He sprinkles
our hearts, not just our bodies, with His blood so that we are holy through and
through (Hebrews 9:13–14; 10:21; 12:24; 1 Peter 1:2). In Communion, His blood
speaks a better word to us than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). Jesus’ blood
does not cry out for justice and revenge but for pardon and justification. It
contradicts Satan when he condemns us for sinning against God and others for
sinning against us; it covers and protects us with Christ’s own righteousness
and holiness. By our faithful reception and reliance on His blood in Holy
Communion, we stand under the protection of Christ, just as the Israelites were
kept safe from the angel of death in Egypt by the blood of the Passover lamb
(Exodus 12:21–27; Hebrews 11:28). Thus we overcome the evil one by the blood of
Christ, the Lamb of God (Revelation 12:11).”
John W. Kleinig, Grace Upon Grace:
Spirituality for Today
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