Nothing But the Blood

 

“What can wash away my sins?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus,” resounds the old hymn.

Our Bible Study teacher was reaching from John 6:41-58 as Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue. I took notes and present an edited lesson for your enjoyment.

Jesus was remembering the Old Testament sacrifices where the blood offerings were preeminent. Bread offerings were also presented with grain, meal, oil and frankincense applied for a sweet order unto God.

That day as many were listening to Jesus teach in the temple, as he began to speak of himself as being the living Bread of Life, and whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life. 

 

Jesus began to look forward to the Lord’s supper, so the next words were not understood by the multitude of listeners.  Jesus said, I give you my flesh to eat and my blood to drink.

These words were extremely offensive to the listeners, because to eat or drink blood was strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses.  It was a Big deal NOT to eat blood.

The crowd took Jesus words literally and could not understand the spiritual implication, and it was too much for their thinking.

In the Old Testament, the people brought a pure lamb for a sacrifice as they asked forgiveness for their sins. 

Today we as believers, come to Jesus our Lamb of God, and it is His blood that will wash away our sins.  In order to be saved, we must come to Jesus and receive the salvation so freely offered.

The Jewish culture experienced all the offerings including the Passover Lamb. Jesus had participated in these ceremonies from a young child.  He knew full well that as time passed, he would become the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.

1 Kings 1:50-53 tells the story of Adonijah who was afraid because of his treason against his own brother King Solomon.  He fled to the temple and held on to the horns of the alter and begged for his life.  Solomon declared that if Adonijah remained a man of honor, he would not slay him.

When we make a decision to follow Jesus, His blood protects us from judgment and washes away our sins.  We are then to follow Jesus and walk in His righteousness and holiness.

“In Him we live and move and have our being.”

Deuteronomy 10:12-14  The Lord requires us to serve Him in fear and reverence, and to keep his statutes and commandments.  

Deuteronomy chapter 28 lays out the blessings for following God and the cursings for rebellion and going our own way.

In the Old Testament, the fire was to always burn and never go out. 

After Jesus returned to heaven, on the day of Pentecost - - fire was released upon the believers as they prayed to receive the Holy Spirit.  God desires that we remain burning for him. 

In the book of Revelation, God speaks of a certain church body who were neither hot or cold but were luke-warm.  In a few words, this caused God to be sick at his stomach.

May we ever remain burning with hot fire and zeal for our Lord.

Our teacher mentioned to continue to pray for the Pastor in North Korea who is in prison, and others believers who are being killed and persecuted for their faith in Jesus.

They are our brothers and sisters for we are all one blood from Adam.