FOCUS: The Efficacy of The Blood of Jesus

Text: Jh.19:34

"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out BLOOD and WATER."

This is one of the hard to explain verses of the Holy Scripture. Jesus is dead already, but to make sure of it, one of the soldiers pierced His side. John is right there to witness the whole thing, and to his surprise, he sees blood and water gush out of His side. Let me not venture into the explanations of medical experts, but suffice it to know that a dead body does not bleed. But the dead body of Jesus bled after it was pierced.

The piercing is meant to partly fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah (Zech.12:10). The blood mingled with water that gushed out of His body is spiritually significant, for by the blood the believer is justified and by the water he is sanctified.

Now let us focus on the efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ.

By the shed blood of Jesus Christ God RATIFIES or seals the covenant forever (1Cor.11:25; Heb.9:20; 10:29), DELIVERS us from death (Ex.12:13), ATONES or propitiates for our sins (Rom.3:25), makes certain our ELECTION (1Pet.1:2), REDEEMS us eternally (Eph.1:7; Heb.9:12), PROCURES our salvation (Act.20:28), LIBERATES us from the bondage of sin, Satan and death (Rev.1:5, the word 'washed' used here in KJV is 'loosed' in the Greek), JUSTIFIES us before His holy throne (Rom.5:9), REMITS our sins (Heb.9:22), PARDONS us (Col.1:14), CLEANSES us (1Jh.1:7), SANCTIFIES us (Heb.13:12), PURGES our conscience (Heb.9:14), ensures our PEACE (Col.1:20), UNITES all men as one (Eph.2:13-15), guarantees our VICTORY (Rev.12:11), makes possible the LORD'S TABLE (1Cor.10:16), and by it we make WHITE our robes (Rev.7:14).

The blood of Christ terrifies all of hell. Satan and his agents cannot stand the power and purity of the blood of Jesus Christ.

It is a holy blood - blood without any iota of sin. In Act.20:28, it is called the blood of God. In Rev.7:14, it is the blood of the Lamb. In Col.1:20, it is the blood of His cross. In 1Cor.11:27, it is the blood of the Lord. In Heb.9:20 and 10:29, it is the blood of the covenant. In Heb.11:28 and 12:24, it is the blood of sprinkling. In 1Pet.1:19, it is "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

Till date the blood of Jesus Christ still flows and works wonders. By His blood the sinner becomes a saint, the saint is taken out of hell and brought into heaven, and his destiny is forever transformed. O, the blood of Jesus is a blessing to all who believe in Him!

By His BLOOD the Christian:

*Boldly beseeches the throne of grace

*Lives free from sin's bondage

*Obtains pardon and favor

*Overcomes the devil

*Dreams of and delights in God's eternity

Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter