The Message of the Blood

The Message of the Blood
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the blood of Abel.”
I love this scripture!It draws me quite frequently and I have such a compelling need to turn to Hebrews chapter 12 verse 22 – 24 to read it time and time again. I would love to cram it so that each time it drew me, I would just smile and recite it in my head and mull over it, but I haven’t been able to cram it. My mind has recorded different versions of it; the NIV part I like says ‘to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,’ and I like the way the KJV puts the last part of it ‘to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel.’ Whatever version I read, this scripture is just lively and simply beautiful.
I find myself drawn to it again today. This time to the very last part, to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. I had an amazing time just basking in it, enjoying the speaking of the blood, hearing its voice, loving its message.
How does blood speak, you say? Follow me then, share my amazing journey…
In Genesis chapter 4 verse 10, I realize for the very first time that blood has a voice. That scripture says “…the voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground…” I say to myself that if the blood has a voice then it can do everything my voice does – it can speak, it can cry, it can make declarations… The blood has a message!
In going through scripture, I recognize the importance of blood. The bible tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Israel as a nation offered countless sacrifices shedding the blood of bulls and goats to make atonement for sin. This was what God commanded and yet, God sometimes rejected their blood offerings; in Isaiah 1 verse 11, He says “to what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.”
I found that this happened several times up until when a different sacrifice was made. Hebrews chapter 10 explains it in detail; verse 4 talks about the impossibility of the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin and then exposes a stronger blood, the one which the scripture says is no common thing. That’s the one which speaks a better thing – the blood of Jesus! He says ‘sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘behold I have come – in the volume of the book it is written of Me – to do Your will, O God.’
This blood of the covenant which is no common thing, what does it say? What’s its message?
Where the blood of Abel cried for vengeance, the blood of Jesus speaks forgiveness. Where the blood of bulls and goats cover sin for a season, the blood of Jesus exposes it and triumphs over it and speaks of my ability to live above sin.
The blood tells me that I have eternal life; for whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.
The blood assures me that ancestral curses and genealogical traits will not be allotted to me, for by the blood, I have been translated from death to a newness of life; for in those days they shall no longer say ‘the fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
The blood speaks of my healing…for He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities; the chastisement for my peace was upon Him and by His stripes I am healed.
The blood speaks of my inheritance – it tells me that I can enter into the holy place and come boldly to the throne of grace to find much needed mercy and much needed grace to help me in my time of need. In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought nearby His blood.
The blood says therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Beloved and most precious child of the Most High God, hear the blood speak over you today. And join the voice of the blood to declare God’s message over you - We are complete in Him!
ID Ogufere, January 2012