The Blood of Jesus: Power and Grace

Introduction

There is a scene that comes up often when people talk about salvation: a young girl in the middle of a set, surrounded by threats, and behind her, without her seeing it, someone protecting her. A silent sketch, complete stillness, and yet everything is said. When someone who does not yet know Jesus watches this scene, they ask a simple question: "But who is this protector?" We know. It is Christ. He was already watching over her while she could not see him.

This morning, we are entering the very foundations of the Christian life: the blood of the Lord Jesus, its power and its grace. This is not a theme reserved for old hymns. It is the very heart of the Gospel. God, Paul says, showed his love for us in that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This blood shed at the cross concerns you, today, in the week that is beginning.

We are going to go through this subject in four points, guided by Scripture. Take the time to let what God has done for you reach you.

Outline of the message

Why talk about blood?
The grace of the blood announced in the Old Testament
A blood that reconciles all things with God
Through this blood, you can approach God with confidence

1. Why talk about blood?

In our hymns, we sing of "the precious blood," "the power of the blood." Inside the church, this language is familiar to us. But if you step outside the service and listen to how it sounds to someone who does not know Jesus, you quickly realize this word is unsettling. "Why are they singing about blood? It's a bit strange, almost religious in the wrong sense of the word."

When I was a theology student, every Tuesday we would go out to evangelize in the Tennoji neighborhood. Beforehand, we would rehearse together: the message, the testimonies, the songs. One day, a brother had chosen "Let Your Rain Fall Down." Another gently told us: "Honestly, for someone who doesn't know the Lord yet, that's incomprehensible... and besides, we'd rather it didn't rain while we're evangelizing in the street." Another time, a student suggested "Receive the Power of the Blood of the Lord." Again, an older believer answered: "The song about the blood is powerful, great for us, but a bit too heavy for a first contact." That day, we decided instead to sing hymns everyone could receive: "Amazing Grace," "To God Be the Glory," "I Love You, Lord."

That small conversation stayed with me. When you have lived in the faith for a long time, you easily forget the perspective of someone who does not yet know Jesus. You use words you would never say anywhere else. If you scrape your knee, you do not cry out, "Oh, my blood!" Your daughter does not talk that way either. So why does Scripture insist so much on this blood?

John gives us a first clue: "But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water" (John 19:34). This is the blood Scripture holds onto. Blood that flows, that pours out, that speaks. And 1 John 1:7 reveals its full scope: "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 cleanses us from all sin."

God is light. In him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie (1 John 1:6). A verse that stings. What blocks fellowship with God is sin. And if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8). Yes, in Christ our sins are removed, we are declared righteous, but our sinful nature remains. This is where grace comes in: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

This cleansing did not happen only once, on the day of your conversion. It is an eternal salvation, a cleansing that God applies to your life day after day. Ephesians 1:7 confirms it: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." Redeemed at a great price. We were slaves to sin, under coming wrath (Eph 2:3). Christ paid with his own blood. Not because we were worthy, but by pure grace.

Revelation 1:5 goes even further: "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood." You are set free. Freed from the power of sin. You no longer have to live in chains.

I remember a car accident, when I was in my early twenties. A small collision at a light, entirely my fault. The man I had hit (a busy company executive), eventually told me: "Fine, let's leave it there, I forgive you, I have a train to catch." The police still came, and everything was settled. But in the weeks that followed, I called him twice a week: "Are you okay? Are you in any pain? I'm so sorry again." After several calls, he finally answered himself, a bit irritated: "I told you I forgive you. It's settled. Stop calling me." His words woke me up. I had not received his forgiveness. I kept carrying what he had already cancelled.

Do not do to God what I did to that man. If he tells you he has forgiven you, that he has set you free, that he has made you his child, it would be a shame not to believe him. The power of Christ's blood is greater than the power of your sin. Receive it.

2. The grace of the blood announced in the Old Testament

Exodus 12:13: "The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt." On the night of the Passover, Israel had to put the blood of the spotless lamb on the lintel and doorposts. God does not say, "I will look at who you are." He says, "I will see the blood."

Take a moment to measure what that means for you. If God judged based on your heart, your hidden thoughts, your secret angers, none of us would stand. But he looks at the blood. Today, that blood is Jesus' blood, applied to your life by faith. Judgment passes over you, not because you are blameless, but because Christ shed his blood for you.

Exodus 29:19-21 shows us the consecration of the priests. Aaron and his sons receive blood on the lobe of their right ear, on the thumb of their right hand, on the big toe of their right foot; then the altar and their garments are sprinkled. The right side, in the Bible, evokes strength. The message is clear: it is not their own strength that makes them holy, it is the blood that purifies them.

Early expositors read these three anointings as a picture of the Christian life. The blood on the ear: listening carefully to the Word of God. The blood on the hand: serving God through what you do. The blood on the foot: walking in his ways. Today too, may the blood of Christ mark your ear to listen, your hand to serve, your foot to follow Jesus step by step.

Exodus 29:12 goes further: "And you shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar." This blood on the four horns of the altar is the blood of the sin offering. It opens access to the presence of God. In the Old Testament, one did not approach God however one pleased. Blood was needed that answered God's holiness. That is what this blood foreshadowed: through the blood of Christ, you can enter into the presence of God, not because you have the right, but because he grants you the right.

3. A blood that reconciles all things with God

Colossians 1:19-22: "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him."

The blood of Christ does not only bring forgiveness to an individual. It carries a cosmic reconciliation. Four things to remember:

The initiative is entirely God's. It is not we who approached him; it is he who reconciled us.
The reconciliation is accomplished. The verb is in the perfect tense. Like the man from the accident who told me: "I already forgave you, stop calling." It is done.
This reconciliation comes through the blood of the cross (Col 1:20). Nothing else.
Its reach goes beyond humanity: it touches "all things." The whole creation is included in God's plan of salvation.

God's heart leans toward reconciliation. Yes, Scripture also speaks of his wrath against sin. But his underlying movement is to gather, to restore, to make peace. And the price has been paid.

4. Through this blood, you can approach God with confidence

Hebrews 10:19-22: "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Draw near. This verb belongs to the language of worship, the language of adoration. You do not need to be stronger, more worthy, more clean to come to God. Christ opened the way through his offered body. The veil is torn. The blood is sprinkled on your heart, your conscience is purified, your body washed.

This confidence does not rest on how well you performed this week. Look honestly at the days that have just gone by: there may be things you would rather no one saw. But every day you can come back before the Lord, confess, be purified, and go out again. You are saved. You are set free. You are a child of God. Walk in that identity.

Key takeaways

The blood of Christ cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7). No exception.
God sees the blood of Christ, not your merit (Exodus 12:13). That is where your confidence lies.
Redemption is a gift of grace, not a reward (Eph 1:7).
Christ frees you from the power of sin; refusing that freedom would mean denying his cross (Rev 1:5).
Through this blood, access to God is opened to you permanently: draw near (Heb 10:22).

Personal application

Is there a sin already forgiven that you are still carrying like a debt? What would God say if he told you, like the man from the accident: "I have forgiven you, stop calling"?
Is your ear truly listening to the Word right now, or only in bits and pieces? What needs to change this week?
Is your hand serving the Lord, or is it taken up elsewhere? What concrete action can you take?
Does your foot walk in Jesus' footsteps in your daily decisions?
Today, how will you approach God "with a sincere heart"? What obstacle do you want to set down?

Verses cited

FAQ

Why does the Bible speak so much about the blood of Jesus?

Because in the biblical economy, blood represents life given up. God does not downplay sin: he takes it seriously, and Christ gave his life to cancel it. Blood is not a morbid symbol, it is the price paid for your freedom.

If Christ has already forgiven me, why do I still need to confess my sins?

Salvation is secured once for all, but daily fellowship must be cultivated. 1 John 1:9 invites you to confess in order to be purified in the present relationship, the way you wash off what has gathered along the way.

What does it actually mean to "approach God with confidence"?

It means praying, worshiping, opening the Bible, coming before him, without waiting to be "good enough." The access is already open through the blood of Christ. Your part is not to earn the entrance, but to come.

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