Articles
The Blood
The blood prophesied. Although no Old Testament prophecy says specifically that the Messiah would shed His blood, the references to His being pierced/wounded/ scourged would certainly imply bloodshed (Ps. 22:16; Isa. 53:5; Zech 12:10; cf. John 19:37). The Passover lamb’s blood prefigured the blood that would be shed by “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NASB; cf. Ex. 12:21-23; 1 Cor. 5:7; Rev. 5:6-14).
The blood shed. Likely Jesus suffered considerable blood loss from being scourged and from having his hands and feet pierced with the nails. But the shedding of blood that is particularly emphasized in Scripture occurred when the soldier pierced His side following His death. The apostle John was an eyewitness to this and made special mention of it (John 19:34-35).
The blood applied. It is the blood of Christ that cleanses us of sin and purchases us for God (Acts 20:28; Rom. 5:9; Heb. 9:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Rev. 1:5; 7:14). His blood initially benefits us when it is applied at that beautiful moment of our baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-5). Then the blood continues to cleanse us as we walk in the light and confess our sins (1 John 1:7, 9).
The blood remembered. A blood-bought sinner must never forget the high cost of his cleansing. That’s why the Lord asked us to remember Him in the weekly memorial of the Lord’s Supper. “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:25 NASB).
The blood: prophesied, shed, applied, remembered.
