The Power of the Blood of Jesus
Over the years, I have seen thousands of people respond to the Gospel and receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior. I have heard testimony after testimony of lives that have been changed by an encounter with Him and have seen their joy as they received forgiveness of their sins. All attest to the power of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin and bring them into a new life in Christ. Even though it may be hard to understand, the forgiveness provided by the blood of Jesus makes us holy; as if we had never sinned. In 1876, Robert Lowry wrote a hymn that has been a favorite in churches ever since. It begins like this: “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
One night in a church service, a young woman responded to the invitation of the preacher and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs and prostitution. But, the change was evident. As time went on, she became a faithful member of the church and eventually became involved in the children’s ministry. It was not long until this young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son. The relationship grew and they began to make plans to get married. This is when the problems began.
You see, about one half of the church did not think a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. They decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments, the tensions increased, until the meeting was getting out of control. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry, the pastor’s son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He said to the congregation: “My fiancées’ past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?” The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of Jesus Christ.
When I heard this story, I wondered to myself if many of us do not often do the same. Do we hold our brothers’ and sisters’ past against them? Do we require from them something that even the Lord does not require? Forgiveness is to be receive by faith. It is an act of grace. It can never be earned. The Lord said that when He forgives, He remembers our sin no more. To God, forgiveness is forgetfulness. Through the blood of Jesus, our sins are buried in the deepest part of the sea and there the Lord puts up a sign: “No Fishing Allowed!” What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Without the shedding of the blood of Jesus there is no forgiveness of sin. Sin had to be atoned for. Sin brings condemnation and requires judgment. The price that was needed to be paid for sin could only come from the sinless Son of God. His blood, and His only, had to be shed. In doing so, forgiveness was granted to all who believe. Now there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8.1) As the refrain of Lowry’s song goes: “Oh! precious is the flow. That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Scriptures to meditate on:
Psalms 103.1-12; Is. 38.17; 43.25; Eph. 1.7; Rom. 8.1; Heb. 9.22; Rev. 1.5