My 43-year-old sister died of a rare aggressive form of cancer in 2005. And then six years later in 2011, almost to the day, my dad died of the same cancer. Those deaths changed the dynamics of our family. As I reflected upon these two great losses, I realized how precious life is. I also realized how precious my family is. In fact, there are MANY things I value… things I hold dear to my heart. This passage in 1 Peter reminds me that there is nothing more precious than the blood of Jesus. Why? Well, let’s take a look…
The blood of Jesus… bought my salvation (Acts 20:28); redeemed me (Ephesians 1:7); cleansed my guilty conscience (Hebrews 9:14); offered me forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22); purifies me (1 John 1:7); gives me access into the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10k:19); makes me holy (Hebrews 13:12); brings me into the New Covenant (Luke 22:20); helps me to overcome the enemy (Revelation 12:11).
No wonder Peter said that the blood of Jesus is precious. The blood of Jesus gives me right standing with God. In fact, Jesus doesn’t see me the way I see me… I see my faults, my mistakes, my sin, my failures. I see someone who has just arisen from a mud bath. But Jesus? He doesn’t see any of that. When He looks at me, He ONLY sees His blood that has cleansed me. His blood didn’t just cover up my sin (like the sin of bulls and goats under the Old Covenant), but His blood erased my sin. The blood of Jesus set me free from the condemnation of death (Romans 8:1). As I think about these things, I need to walk as royalty because that is who I am in Christ.
Charity Gayle sings about this in her song, Thank You Jesus for the Blood: “I was a wretch, I remember who I was. I was lost, I was blind, I was running out of time. Sin separated, the breach was far too wide, but from the far side of the chasm You held me in Your sight. So You made a way, across the great divide. Left behind, Heaven’s Throne, to build it here inside. And there at the cross You paid the debit I owe, broke my chains, freed my soul, for the first time I had hope. Thank you Jesus, for the blood applied. Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white. Thank you Jesus, You have saved my life. Brought me from the darkness into glorious light.” Hope this encourages you today.