The Blood of the Lamb

“Would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s power in the blood of the Lamb.” This is the opening line of a song by Lewis E. Jones, published in 1899. It is a topic widely quoted in the Bible, but often misunderstood. ‘For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar’ (Leviticus 17:11). It’s the blood that makes reconciliation between God and man. An animal had to be sacrificed, and its blood sprinkled on the altar of God, to cleanse the people of their sins.

This was not a ritual performed to appease other gods. This was a command of God Himself for the priest to bring an animal sacrifice to the altar. ‘Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness’ (Hebrews 9:22), and sin remains a barrier between man and God. Here we have the forerunner of the supreme sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross. This, along with other rituals and commands laid down by the Law of Moses, was brought into its true meaning and significance by His death and resurrection.

Jesus was the ultimate High Priest. He fulfilled the enactment of the Law by His own body. He did not enter the Holy Place by the blood of a lamb. He Himself was the Lamb, whose blood was sacrificed on the altar of Calvary for the sins of the world. This is the reality of the cross. The blood of the unblemished Lamb was shed to cleanse people of their sins and make a way for all to come back to God, purified and sanctified.

Jesus did not enter the Holy place for His own sake. ‘He entered heaven itself, to appear for us in God’s presence … to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him’ (Hebrews 9:24 & 28). The door into the presence of God was opened through Christ, ‘having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water’ (Hebrews 10:22).

This was a once only event, and when He died Jesus took us with Him. ‘For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3:3). Our old self was put to death, and born again through the spirit of God who raised His Son from the dead. This was also a once only event. Now the old has gone and the new has come, and we can live our lives in this truth and reality.

So now we know the end from the beginning, a great responsibility rests on our shoulders, as we walk through the daily minefield of our life. We have crossed over from death to life, covered by the blood of Christ, to walk on in His righteousness. ‘This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe’ (Romans 3:22).