“Saying, ‘This is the blood of the testament that God commanded for you.’” Hebrews 9:20
There is a strange power about the very name of blood, and the sight of it is always affecting. A kind heart cannot bear to see a sparrow bleed, and unless familiarized by use, turns away with horror at the slaughter of a beast. As to the blood of men, it is a consecrated thing: it is murder to shed it in anger; it is a dreadful crime to squander it in war. Is this solemnity occasioned by the fact that blood is life, and the spilling of it is a sign of death? We think so.
When we contemplate the blood of the Son of God, our awe is greatly increased, and we shudder as we think of the guilt of sin, and the terrible penalty which the Sin-bearer endured. Blood, always precious, is priceless when it streams from Immanuel’s side. The blood of Jesus seals the covenant of grace, and makes it forever sure. Covenants of old were made by sacrifice, and the everlasting covenant was ratified in the same manner.
Oh, the delight of being saved upon the sure foundation of divine covenants which cannot be broken!
Salvation by the works of the law is a frail and broken vessel whose shipwreck is inevitable; but the covenant vessel fears no storms, for the blood ensures the whole. The blood of Jesus made his testament valid. A will is just a document, and has no power until the owner of the estate dies. In this light, the soldier’s spear is a blessed aid to faith, since it proved our Lord to be really dead. There can be no doubts on that matter, and we may boldly appropriate the legacies that he has left for his people. Happy are they who see their inheritance to heavenly blessings assured to them by a dying Savior.
But does this blood have no voice to us? Does it not bid us sanctify ourselves to him who has redeemed us? Does it not call us to newness of life, and incite us to be entirely consecrated to the Lord?
Oh, that the power of the blood might be known and felt in us this night!
Adapted from Morning and Evening.
