Blood of the Lamb

And the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  1 John 1:6-7

I learned something new this week and I have been marveling ever since.  The area where we live has rattlesnakes.  I have always been really scared of snakes but especially rattlesnakes.  They can get rather large and a bite to an unsuspecting passer-by could cause death.  If bitten, someone should seek medical attention immediately.  The venom from the majority of rattlesnake bites can cause damage to tissue, adversely affect our circulatory system and even cause internal hemorrhaging. To say the least, this is a medical emergency. 

It is safe to say that a rattlesnake bite would create great pain in our body and even death.  The Bible tells us that Satan roams around seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).  There are a lot of symptoms that come from allowing Satan a foothold in our lives (depression, anger, lack of peace, heartache and stress).  We too often spend time focusing on our symptoms rather than the antidote.  Oh yes, there is an antidote for a rattlesnake bite.  The List of Essential Medicines says, “Antivenoms remain the only specific treatment that can potentially prevent or reverse most of the effects of snakebites.” I was surprised to find out this week that snake venom antidotes are made primarily of an animal with a robust immune system that produces powerful antibodies that can bind to snake venom components and enable our immune defenses to eliminate these toxins.  Do you know the animal? It is the sheep or lamb. A snake bite to a small lamb is not fatal because of the properties in the sheep’s blood.

The lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world has an even greater effect on our lives. 

For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28

Forgiveness is necessary because sin has separated us from God.  Sin brings condemnation and God’s wrath, but forgiveness is possible because of Jesus’ death on the cross and the shedding of His innocent blood. The blood is essential to redemption and the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross brings reconciliation. It is the blood that is the antidote for all sin and all the problems in our life.

Plead the blood.

Pastor Julia Scott