The Blood of the Lamb
by Philip Asselin
In the UK the chances of being bitten by a poisonous snake are very low, but in America, Australia and West Africa the reverse is true. In fact, Thomasville, Georgia, is known as the ‘Rattlesnake Capital of America’ – the centre of America’s snake belt. Apart from the danger of dying from being bitten by a poisonous snake there, farmers worry about their cattle and horses, because the animals are unable to let their owners know they have been bitten and need urgent treatment.
Sheep, however, are not affected in the same way by a snake bite. They do react to the bite and the location can swell up, but the snake bite doesn’t kill the sheep. Their blood contains unique antibodies which protect them from the venom. In fact, it was reported that the sheep on a 250-acre farm in Carmarthen, South Wales, have blood with the purest antidote to the world’s deadliest snakes. Their blood is now being used to develop the most powerful cure to snake bite yet discovered.
As I read about this, I was reminded that Satan is often depicted as a snake. In that guise he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, leading them to sin by disobeying God. The ‘bite’ of Satan resulted in their death. We have inherited that same venom running through our veins from the moment of our conception and birth. Unless treated, it will result in our eternal death, separation from God.
All through the Old Testament we can see the blood shed by bulls and goats being used to nullify the Serpent’s venom, but it wasn’t eternally effective. ‘But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins’ (Hebrews 10:4).
The world was waiting for the perfect antidote, the blood which would truly destroy Satan’s venom. And finally, two thousand years ago, it arrived in the form of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He suffered and died and shed His precious blood for us. His blood was the perfect antidote to cleanse us from all poison (sin). He was and is the spotless Lamb of God, and those sheep I mentioned earlier are a wonderful reminder of this.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You shedding Your blood so I might be cleansed and healed from the poison of sin. The blood of the Lamb overcomes the bite of Satan every time. Not a soul is lost who takes for themself the antidote which Jesus freely offers to everyone who gives their life to Him. Hallelujah what a Saviour! Amen.
Philip Asselin Philip is on the associate ministry and teaching teams with Glyndley Manor. He and his wife Gillian attended the second Healing Retreat at Glyndley Manor in 1992, and were greatly helped. They have two grown up children, one grandson, and a step-granddaughter in California, and a daughter and granddaughter in Eastbourne. His desire is to see people healed and set free to serve God.
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