Reading: “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” —John 19:34

One of the devices that Satan uses to draw the soul into sin is to paint sin with a show of virtue, that we might be more easily overcome by it and take the more pleasure in it. Thus, he trips us and defeats us. Even those very sins that Satan paints, and puts new names and colors on, cost the best blood, the noblest blood, the life-blood, the heart-blood of the Lord Jesus.

The least drop of Christ’s blood was not sufficient for the pardon of our sins and the redemption of our souls. Then the value of His passion would have been measured only by the dignity of His person. If the least drop was sufficient then the blood of His circumcision was enough or the blood shed by the crown of thorns. What need was there for His dearest heart blood, if a drop from His hand would have saved our souls. What was necessary for our salvation and what Christ gave was not a mere drop but the pouring out of His very heart blood.

It was His life-blood, His heart-blood He gave. It was not the blood of His finger, but the blood of His heart. It was precious blood. Let scholars fancy what they please, it is certain that without His very heart blood, not one dram of that bitter cup that Christ drank off could be abated, in order to His Father’s full satisfaction, and man’s eternal redemption.

(Taken from “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices,” “A Discourse On Closet Prayer” and “The Unsearchable Riches of Christ” in The Works of Thomas Brooks, 1:16-17, 2:250-251 and 3:105)

 

O what a Savior, O hallelujah!
His heart was broken on Calvary,
His hands were nail scarred,
His side was riven,
He gave His life-blood for even me.

—Marvin P. Dalton