Wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb

The Verse of the Day posted on the Logos Bible Software Home page for February 4, 2023, comes from Leviticus 16:30 (New Living Translation):

³⁰ On that day offerings of purification will be made for you, and you will be purified in the Lord’s presence from all your sins.

The passage from Leviticus reveals the elaborate purification process given to Moses for the Children of Israel whereby their sins were atoned for or forgiven under the Law or the Old Covenant:

As Hebrews 9:13 reminds us:

Indeed, under the law, almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.

The context related to this verse points out the distinction between the Old Covenant established by the blood sacrifice of animals and the New Covenant implemented through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:13-14 point out this distinction:

For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

The reference to the distinctive power inherent in the blood of Jesus Christ brings to mind these original lines related to the color red:

red

red clay red

Adamic dust red

red man

red

yearning

to return to Eden

red

red

blood red

red

yes, Lord, red

Lamb’s blood

red

precious blood

red

blood-stained banner

red

like the crimson flow

that cleanses scarlet sins

and washes white as snow

red

Amen red

red

blood red

As I read the Verse of the Day and related scriptures, I also thought of this original psalm as I personalized the shedding of blood by Jesus Christ on my behalf:

Beyond Hyssop

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 Psalm 51:7

Can any stalks of hyssop purify my leprous soul?

Can they daub with precious lamb’s blood the lintels of this house?

Where are the purgatives to cleanse and balms to me make whole

When the passions of my sinful flesh surface and arouse

My senses with flames rekindled from those carnal embers?

Can I be made clean once more, as I wrestle this body

Of death each day and seek to beat back my mortal members?

Though hyssop may flush my rancid soul of iniquity,

Beyond the strength of this remedy is life-giving blood

Of the Lord Jesus, ultimate, unblemished sacrifice

Sent from the bosom of the Father, who alone is good.

Such a costly prescription is far beyond any price.

Truly this balm in Gilead has healed my wounded soul,

Deeply cleansed me from within, and his blood has made me whole.

Lyrics of the stalwart hymn also remind us “There is power, wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb,” as Ephesians 2:13 also makes known:

But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

In Hebrews 10:19 we find this exhortation:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

1 John 1:7 also reinforces the message of the purifying presence of the blood of Jesus Christ:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The context for this section of 1 John chapter 1 is fellowship with God and with fellow believers. Verses 6-10 begin with the conditional clause “if we” followed by a verb: “If we say… if we walk… if we say… if we confess… if we say….” These expressions establish the conditions which if met on our part, will result in a corresponding action on God’s part. These two parts of the conditional sentences are especially noted in 1 John 1:9. If we do our part, which is to confess our sins, our faithful and just God will do His part, for the ‘blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all unrighteousness.” Without question, the blood of Jesus Christ is an amazing spiritual repository of life-generating power.

We conclude with CeCe Winans’ offering in song: “The Blood Medley”:

Scarlet sins made white as snow

From the opening chapter of the Book of Isaiah come words that provide a portrait of possibilities, of future transformation:

Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Here God is speaking to His people who have rebelled and abandoned His precepts and pursued a path that has led to separation from God who is attempting to reason with a wayward and disobedient people, as He unfolds His desire for reconciliation.  A recent blog entry mentioned that “God is still in the restoration business,” as this passage reveals. Even though His people are laden with sins, described as being “scarlet,” yet those deeply stained with sin can be cleansed, rendered “white as snow.” Logos Bible software notes that the Hebrew word for “scarlet” means double-dyed, referring to the deep-fixed permanency of sin in the heart, which no mere tears can wash away. We also recognize that without the shedding of blood there is no remission or cleansing of sin.

The words of the prophet Isaiah project toward the coming Messiah who would embody the Passover Lamb . . .”The Atonement” for sin through the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.”

Lines from a descriptive poem entitled “Red” allude to the shed blood of Jesus Christ spoken of in Isaiah 1:18:

red

blood red

red

yes, Lord, red

Lamb’s blood

red

precious blood

red

blood-stained banner

red

like the crimson flow

that cleanses scarlet sins

and washes white as snow

red

Amen red

red

blood red

blood red

blood red

blood red

blood red

blood red

blood red

red   red    red   red     red    red    red

red

blood red

I said.

red

CeCe Winans offers a medley of songs related to “the precious blood of the Lamb”: