It is a fact that we have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. As a result, we cannot go before him just as we are. We need to be forgiven and cleansed from our sins. But how can we receive such cleansing and be forgiven? The Book of Hebrews states, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22). The power of the blood of Jesus is often overlooked as the means to purify and cleanse us from sin. It is more powerful than the blood of animals used for purification and cleansing in the Old Testament. Just as Moses used blood to purify the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremony, we need to apply the blood of Jesus not only to ourselves, but also to the things that we use in our service—the Bibles, banners and the like.
The blood of Jesus is needed to restore or redeem what was lost in the Garden of Eden. Because of the transgression of man, sin came. This caused man to be driven away from the presence of God because God said to Adam, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). Not only were they driven out of the Garden of Eden, but God cursed the ground and said, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food” (Gen. 3:17-19). The consequence of sin was enormous, since this meant that man would no longer enjoy the benefit of paradise. The thorns and thistles would make life harder for men to toil the ground. Nevertheless, there is restoration and this is through the redeeming blood of Jesus.
Since almost everything is cleansed by blood, we need to apply the blood of Christ in all areas of our lives, in order for these to be cleansed and redeemed. Even death is conquered by the blood of Jesus, just like the blood that was sprinkled on the doorposts of the Israelite’s homes when God sent the angel of death to strike the firstborn of Egypt. God said, “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt” (Exodus 12:12-13). For those who are sick, they need to overcome their sickness through the blood of Jesus. Better still, we all need to apply the blood of Jesus on the doorframes of our houses, so that the oppressive spirits of sickness and death will pass over our homes. God will surely shield and protect us from all evil by the blood of Jesus.
When curses come to oppress us, there is one sure way to overcome them and this is through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. The apostle Paul said, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’” (Gal. 3:13). The blood of Jesus will never lose its power to restore and redeem. If your you are struggling in your job and it seems that it is more of a curse than a blessing, apply the blood of Jesus and receive it back as having been redeemed. This same thing goes with broken relationships. Let the blood of Jesus break the curse that tries to bring division. It is through the blood of Jesus that the needed relief and restoration come.
Friends, it is time for us to appropriate the blood of Jesus for our salvation. As we have just learned, there is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood. While we ourselves have sinned, we need not shed our own blood. It is enough that we receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour of our lives. The shedding of his blood was meant for the forgiveness of our sins. With his blood sprinkled on our heart, we shall overcome even death itself, just as the firstborn of Israel during their last moments in Egypt were spared from death. Indeed, the blood of Jesus will never lose its power to forgive sin and to restore us to God. Let us sprinkle the blood of Jesus on the doorframe of our hearts that we may be preserved holy and blameless until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!