Reading: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22

The sentence denounced by the law against transgressors was death. And therefore when Messiah became our surety to satisfy the law for us, He must die. The expression of “His blood,” is often used figuratively for His death, perhaps to remind us how He died. His was a bloody death. When He was in His agony in Gethsemane, His “sweat was as great drops of blood, falling down to the ground.” His blood flowed when He gave His back to the smiters, under the painful stroke of the scourging He endured previous to His crucifixion. It flowed from his head, when the soldiers, having mocked His character of King, by crowning Him with thorns, by their rude blows forced the thorns into His temples. His blood streamed from the wounds made by spikes, which pierced His hands and His feet when they fastened Him to the cross.

When He hung on the cross His body was full of wounds and covered with blood. And, after His death, another large wound was made in His side, from which issued blood and water. Such was the redemption-price He paid for sinners, His blood, the blood of His heart.

Without shedding of blood there could be no remission. Nor could any blood accomplish this but His. Not any, not all the bloody sacrifices appointed by the law of Moses could take away sin. But the blood of Messiah, in whom were united the perfection of the divine nature and the real properties of humanity, and which the apostle therefore calls “the blood of God.” This precious blood cleanses from all sin.

(Taken from “The Song of the Redeemed” in The Works of John Newton, 4:544)

 

In lively figures here we see
The bleeding Prince of love;
Each of us hope, he died for me,
And then our griefs remove.

— Isaac Watts