Its Still About the Blood

Hebrews 9:11–14 ESV

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 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, 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.

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

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

Leviticus 17:11 ESV

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

I want to remind you tonight on this, Good Friday, that its still about the blood of Jesus.

Good Friday

Tonight were here to celebrate what we know as Good Friday..

A day we set aside during the year to reflect on the work Jesus accomplished on the cross

not for his own pleasure, but for our salvation.

And we mark this weekend with egg hunts, easter lilies, good music and family gatherings

we celebrate the cherry blossoms and the return of warmer weather as the season shift..

Darker

but the reality of this weekend was much more horrific that these beautiful things….

much darker..

so Much that we don’t like to regularly remember because of the unpleasant nature of these events..

it offends out senses and our contious to look upon them and think about them..

the reality being the price Jesus endured for us, marked by this day..

this was a time of great pain, torture, sorrow and blood shed by our savioir..

all in our place..

But

But no matter how horrific… its important we remember that these events were necessary for you and I,

so we could be made free from the power of both sin and death

redeemed from the fall of humanity in the garden..

so that we could be restored to God our father and rightful creator

so that we could experience freedom in this life..

and so we could be restored to an eternal life with the one who created us..

The Cross

As we know, the central image of Good Friday is Christ on the cross.

At this point in holy week, Jesus has been in the city for a couple of days..

King

sunday

Sunday, we celebrated how he humbly rode in on a donkey…

As the humble savior king..

there was great rejoicing and celebration..

people waved palm branches and declared hosanna hosanna

blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord..

Friday

but now friday has come..

and Jesus has gone from being the triumpant king who was celebrated..

to the despised king of the jews who was nailed to the cross.

Passion Week Events

in the last couple of days…

Jesus has been betrayed by one of his own disciples and turned over to the jews..

He has been falsely accused before the jewish leaders..

he has been turned over to Rome, who found no fault in him..

condemned to death by his own peers…

Crowned with thorns….

Mercilessly whipped with 39 lashes..

Forced to carry his cross to the place of execution..

nailed to that cross without mercy..

Where he would hang, and suffer, as he is mocked and spit at..

Finally, he would give his last breathe and offer his spirit up to the father..

Giving his life..

For us..

Willing

this was Jesus meant when he said in matthew 20:28

Matthew 20:28 ESV

even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

and in john 10:18

John 10:17–18 ESV

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Jesus willingly..

consciously..

endured this for us..

feeling every lash..

every thorn..

every name..

Hearing every curse..

every insult..

every derogatory name..

who

He did this for us..

for those he loved..

for all humanity..

Without complaint..

And Isaiah 53 says he endured them without complaint…

So we could be restored with the father…

this was a horrible day for Jesus..

Nescesary

when we think about Jesus, the tendency of our flesh is to put these events out of mind..

and focus on a risen Jesus, A restored Jesus, A Peaceful Jesus..

one without a scars of blood stains..

one that looks like us and is clean and pretty..

And dont get me wrong..

Jesus is risen..

restored..

alive..

and peaveful..

but the work that was done during this day..

is a work that we cannot ignore, no matter how unpleasant they may be to look upon..

No matter the way they make us feel or the way we feel about them..

The simple fact is without the cross and without the shedding of Jesus blood christianity as a whole has no meaning..

and Salvation is not possible..

because it was the shedding of blood that paid the price for us to become children of god and followers of Christ

2025

in 2025 many in the church would do away with such talk..

to do away with speaking of blood and sacrifice..

gore and violence..

many say.. those things are arcaic..

grotesc..

Unnessesary in civilized culture..

they say.. We dont want to look at that.. or see that.. or talk about that.

blessing

We would rather hear about blessing..

and prosperity..

and health and fortune..

BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF OUR SALVATION…

WITH IT..

WE HAVE NO SALVATION..

Law

Hebrews reminds us of the law established by God himself with the people of israel in the old testament..

and it reminds us that with out the shedding of blood there is no remissions of sin..

without blood being Shed, cleansing and forgiveness is not possible..

restored relationship with God is impossible..

why?

Why is the blood so important?

Leviticus 17:11 reminds us, there is life in the blood..

and the life of the blood covers the death that comes from sin, there by paying the price for that sin..

Sin requires death..

and its a payment that must be made..

once sin enters.. payment is required.. there is no going back..

and in the giving of life… blood is shed..

and that payment is satisfied..

BLOOD HAD TO BE SHED FOR SIN..

Animals..

Under the old testament law..

It was Different animals that were brought for differing sacrifices..

goats, lambs, heafers, and pigeons..

all were brought to die..

to give there lives for sin..

to cover sin or offering a pleasing sacrifice before the lord..

WITHOUT THIS SACRIFICE SIN WAS NOT FORGIVEN…

without death.. there is no life..

Repeated

but these were imperfect sacrifices..

They were temporal..

They would last through the year, or until sin again needed atoned for..

God plan

Understand though that the tabernacle was not the entire plan of god..

It was only the beginning..

IT was just the physical and visual representation of sin an atonement

showing mankind the way to be saved from his sin..

Through the law and the tabernacle we can see both out sin.. and how we are saved..

and is the law and the tabernacle that points to the coming messiah, Jesus..

Who would fulfill the law god has laid out..

and how he would make things right..

Jesus

This why when Jesus comes on the scene..

he tells us in Matthew 5:17

Matthew 5:17 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Jesus came to fulfil the law..

the law of sacrifice..

the law of atonement..

and not just one.. but one and for all..

and on the cross when his blood was shed thats the very thing he did was fulfill the law of sacrifice..

Mark 10:45 ESV

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Lamb slain..

You see The cross became an altar

where the lamb of god was slain.. Jesus gave his life..

John 1:29 ESV

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Peter 1:19 ESV

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

You see Jesus as the lamb shed his blood for us..

as the final sacrifice..

to atone, or pay, the price for our sin..

Thereby no longer requiring the blood of animals..

because his blood was sufficient to pay the price..

Because

Understand.. it was because of this beautiful and unpleasant day..

we can be restored to the father..

we can have eternal life..

Because he paid the price for us..

Belief

I want us to remember tonight..

the price for sin has already been paid for you and I..

It was paid when Jesus shed his blood on the cross as the spotless lamb of god..

This sacrifice was a gift for us..

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

but like any gift it must be received..

we do that by putting our belief in him..

John 1:12 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Romans 10:9–13 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

my question to you today..

is have you received this free gift?

have you placed your belief in Christ..

as the final sacrifice atoning for your sins?

Do you believe the blood still has the power to save?