Mock Not The Blood Of Jesus

I 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] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and truth is not in us. [9] If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithfull and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:7-9 GNV

Not long ago I read an article which upon first and second reading very much I thought it to marginalized the blood of Jesus Christ, especially in relation to His death, burial, and resurrection. Now when I read and share my meditations there are often many other things about which I meditate also. This has been on my mind one of them. One of the first places of Scripture that came to mind when I thought on that which I read was this in this first letter recorded by John, "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleansth us from all sin". John who walked with Christ wrote this powerful statement about the blood of Jesus Christ. The article I read and re-read to try to be sure about the intent of the author generally stated that there was little support throughout Scripture on the blood of Jesus Christ in regards to sin.

There was an attempt to distinguish between the death of the body of Jesus Christ and the significance of the blood of Jesus Christ. In that statement my thoughts went to an Old Testament writing:

[11] For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it unto you to offer upon the altar, to make an atonement for your souls: for this blood shall make an atonement for the soul.

Leviticus 17:11 GNV

This proposed line of thought came back to me when I recently read in Scripture telling of how Jesus took not on Him a nature like that of an Angel, but rather that of the flesh of man.

[14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part with them, that he might destroy through death, him that had the power of death, that is the devil, [15] And that he might deliver all them, which for fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage. [16] For he in no sort took on him the Angels nature, but he took on him the seed of Abraham. [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be merciful, and a faithful high Priest in things concerning God, that he might make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 2:14-17 GNV

Which then took my thoughts to how:

[14] And that Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw the glory thereof, as the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 GNV

Why this distinguishing between angels and the flesh of man? Because in the chapter of Leviticus before we read that the life of the flesh is in the blood we read of interesting instructions for the day of atonement. To make atonement only the high priest enters the Holy place, an only on one special day out of the year. On this day one bull and two goats are selected. The high priest must enter with an atonement for his own sins, and then an atonement for the sins of the people. The bullock is to be slain and its blood is caught for the atonement for the sins of the high priest. But of the goats a lot is cast for which shall be for the atonement for the sins of the people when it is slain and blood collected. The other goat after the atonement is made then has the high priest place his hands on its head and tell over it all the sins and iniquities of the people. Then the goat with all the sins of the people pronounced over it is lead far away to be let go in the wilderness.

Some how in this article it was imagined that the blood was satan's blood representing his death That alone was of great concern from the point that satan is a fallen angel. No where throughout Scripture is there any reference or indication that angels have blood. But even in the event that this may be considered an inference of satan's death it must be understood that it is not anything similar to Jesus telling the disciples at that Passover supper that the grape juice represents the blood of Christ. Because Christ was found in human flesh His blood was a very real and indeed existed. And the death of satan? There is no death of satan. Matthew 25:41 tells that the lake of fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. Revelation 20:10 verifies that the lake of fire is a place that exists forever and ever.

For this article that I read, and as far from Scripture as it roams I am grateful, for as I meditated of "what does Scripture say about the blood of Christ" it caused me to pay closer attention to wherever the "blood of Christ" is mentioned. And like the pattern shown in the mount to Moses to construct the tabernacle and all that is in it so too the actions of the day of atonement clearly spelled out in Leviticus 16 are no longer seen through a glass darkly, but seen clearly in Christ.

[11] But Christ being come an high Priest of good things to come, by a greater and a more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this building, [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves: but by his own blood entered he in once unto the holy place, and obtained eternal redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling them that are unclean, sanctifieth as touching the purifying of the flesh, [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ which through the eternall Spirit offered himself without fault to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?

Hebrews 9:11-14 GNV

It is true that the crucifixion wasn't on the tenth day of the seventh month, that day set aside as the day of atonement,, but then in a similar manner Christ isn't a high priest from the Levitical line, but rather is a priest forever after the order on Melchizedek (Psalm 110; Hebrews 5-7). Many things are not the match we may hope for when we are looking for such. But what is true is that Christ as High Priest needed NOT to offered blood for His own atonement since He was without sin, and He is the Tabernacle so neither did it require atonement. As we see Christ brought His own blood as the atonement within the veil (Hebrews 6:19), the covering for our sins.

As to the part of the scapegoat, so also was Christ as Peter writes:

[24] Who his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live in righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1 Peter 2:24 GNV

Our sins not only pronouned over Him, but in truth were placed on His own body. And He took them into the wilderness. What wilderness? Jesus cried out, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Yes, that wilderness. That separation from God the Father. Do demons fear death? There is no where that is ever indicated. It is my speculation alone that would suggest they would prefer death. But it is what they said to Jesus that helps understand this wilderness, this separation from the very presence of God the Father.

[29] And behold, they cried out, saying, Jesus the son of God, what have we to do with thee? Art thou come hither to tormet us before the time?

Matthew 8:29 GNV

[30] Then Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? and he said, Legion, because many devils were entered into him. [31] And they besought him, that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

Luke 8:30-31 GNV

There is a wilderness that even the demons fear. Oh yes, they believe and tremble (James 2:9). And it was there, that wilderness into which Jesus descended (Ephesians 4:9, 10) And as David saw when he wrote:

[11] For as high as the heaven is above ye earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. [12] As far as the East is from the West: so far hath he removed our sin from us.

Psalms 103:11-12 GNV

Yes, there was an article that I read recently that indeed purported that it was satan's blood rather than the blood of Jesus Christ represented on that day of atonement. Do not mock the blood of Christ in such a way. Still, as I said, I am thankful that I read it, not so much that in my meditation that I might refute it, but rather for me to see better the power and purpose of the blood of Jesus and what He has done by it in covering my sin, and indeed cleansing me from my sin and all unrighteousness.