“Pleading the Blood (of Jesus)” is a fairly common Christian expression, though probably used more in the Charismatic church than the traditional. A simple understanding of the phrase is fundamental to understanding the Gospel and establishing a sure basis for one’s theology.

For the Judean-Christian tradition, there is nothing new in blood. It has been part of the teachings for millennia. Leviticus 1-7 give all the necessary teachings and instructions on this. If the Israelites needed forgiveness, they poured blood on the temple alter. If they needed mercy, the poured blood on the Mercy Seat. If they needed to hear from God, they put blood on the veil so they could enter the Holy of Holies. If they need peace: a blood sacrifice, healing: a blood sacrifice, a miracle: a blood sacrifice. The blood sacrifice was central to the Jewish people’s life-style and worship-style, from the very beginning.

But for born-again Christians under the new covenant, life is different. We have a source of blood which will never dry up: the Blood of the Son of God Himself, that of Jesus Christ of Nazareth who was crucified to redeem us by His own blood.

Under the new covenant, we do not need to reapply it again and again; we do not re-crucify Jesus again and again. He paid the price once and for all and His Blood is there for us every time we need it, for healing, to enter God’s presence, for peace, for a miracle, for all our needs, it is there. Mainly, we just need to recognise it and use it, for it is the most powerful thing we have to use and we can use it every time we need a touch from God.

Our enemy, God’s enemy, will use all possible tactics in his armoury to defeat us and separate us from God and there is nothing, no trick, no ruse, no lie that is beyond him. However, the Blood of Jesus, is beyond him and it is ours to use to defeat him and protect ourselves and our families.

The Blood of Jesus is the power source through which we can work out our salvation and both attain and maintain our freedom from bondage. By the Blood of Jesus our sins are washed away and we are made righteous; no longer enemies of God. The Blood of Jesus does not cover over our past sins, but washes them clean as though they has never happened. It matters not if the sin is lying, drugs, abortion, murder, theft, adultery, His blood will wash it clean. As Isaiah 1:18 says “though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.”

The meaning of the Blood of Jesus, compared to Old Testament blood, be it of lamb, goat, calf or whatever, is made clear and contrasted for us in Hebrews 9:11-15 where it says:

“But when Christ had become a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building nor by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered once for all into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ (who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God) purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new covenant, so that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

Thus, we can use the His Blood when the enemy attacks us, tempting us to respond in a non-Christlike way by saying for example “In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of His blood, I refuse to ….. again and I declare I am over it. Victory is mine in Christ and you have no more hold on me!”

When we stand before the Throne and face the Father, the accuser will still be there – telling us how hypocritical we are, how unworthy, how worthless, how guilty. Yet we can stand and plead the Blood of Jesus. Though we are indeed guilty, Jesus has already paid the price for us on the Cross at Golgotha. He will be there with us, interceding, confirming, “Yes father, I have redeemed him/her.” Yes, we are redeemed by the Blood of Jesus and in that, we are free.

Amen and Amen.