Under the Umbrella of the Blood

The whole of the Word of God is a testament or will by the "Blood of the Testator." The very culture and personality of the Holy Scripture is redemption by the "Blood of Jesus Christ." It is a crimson cord that traces its way from Genesis and the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation. To remove or destroy this supernatural glue that holds the Bible together is to destroy the entire Revelation of God. The "Shadow of Christ’s Blood" in the Old Testament was so supernatural that it stopped the greatest army on the earth and opened a highway for Israel in the sea and through the wilderness. A brazen serpent on a pole, which foreshadowed the Lamb of God on a cross, stopped a plague of death in its tracks. Because the Son of God had been offered to death in the heart of God, the types of His shed blood and sacred death were sufficient for the sanctifying from sin throughout the First Testament.

But, now comes the actual divine blood as redemption to the uttermost. Apostle Paul said it perfectly as he spoke by the Holy Ghost. "But Christ being come an 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; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth 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?" (Hebrews 9:11-14).

The blood of sacrificial animals in the First Testament was actually able to sanctify the temple, the altar, and other objects to allow the holiness of God to be manifest in that temple. More important was that the people could be sanctified from sin and its powers so that they could live in the favor of God and in His blessings. This was accomplished because these sacrifices were offered as a perfect type of the coming Messiah of Israel and His blood, which was yet to be sacrificed. The text above made this truth wonderfully plain, "For if the blood of bulls and of goats . . . How much more shall the blood of Christ . . . . purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" This language about the Blood is used carefully to speak of this great truth as a vibrant lifestyle, not a one-time experience. We do not just claim the blood as a non-experimental fact, but we live under the umbrella of the blood, being purged every day and winning every spiritual victory by its powers.

Jesus Christ became an eternal High Priest, presiding over spiritual Jerusalem or the church of the Living God. Again, Apostle Paul leaves no doubt about this everlasting priesthood. By the Holy Ghost he said, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22). Again, from the previous text, it was said, " . . . by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:11). We can also enter redemptively into the Holy Place by the same blood by which He entered into the Holy Place. This Holy of Holies cannot be anything other than the Inner Sanctum or the very Throne Room of our Great God in Heavenly Jerusalem.

One has but to turn to the Book of Revelation to see this blood on the altar in the eternal city. "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ‘Ark of His Testament:’ and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." (Revelation 11:19). No one can doubt that this was not the ark of the First Testament, which rested in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and, later, the temple. That was the shadow of the finished work that was complete in the New Testament by the Eternal Son. This is the real thing, this is the "Ark of ‘His’ Testament," the ark where rests the blood of the everlasting covenant. The Son of God entered into this heavenly temple with His eternal blood and deposited this sacred offering in this eternal "Ark of His Testament." This is the whole foundation of our completed redemption. To understand this we must understand the nature of His blood.

The Nature of Jesus Christ’s Blood
There is much unnecessary controversy over the nature of Jesus Christ’s blood. Satan hates the blood of Jesus above all other Biblical truth. Almost every damaging theological error relates in some way to the nature of Christ or the nature of His blood. Was His blood human or was it divine? I tremble to speak or write of such truth as we find in this subject. If in some words that I write, there is weakness or the wrong emphasis, I pray for your understanding. With God’s help, I will learn how to say it better.

The Son of God was indeed the "only begotten of the Father." (John 1:14). He was fully man and He was fully God. "Emmanuel" or "God with us" was the word the Holy Ghost gave one of His prophets of old. (Matthew 1:23). If He was fully man, then there had to be a human component in His blood; but if He was fully God, then there also had to be a divine component in His blood. Therefore, we can say that His blood was human and we can also say that His blood was divine. It cannot be said that a part of His person was divine or that a part of His person was human. All of His person was human and all of His person was divine. That must include His blood, as well as the totality of His being. He said of Himself, "Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?" (John 10:36).

Something absolutely supernatural and unknown to man, past or future, occurred in the birth and life of Jesus Christ. A virgin conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost and the "Holy Thing" born of her was called the "Son of God." (Luke 1:35). To reduce His blood to sheer natural blood is to destroy the power of redemption. To eliminate from His nature and composition the human is to destroy His identity as our Kinsman Redeemer. The two natures are complete in this God/man, Who came to change the course of human history. He is unique and His twin natures are unexplainable, and we should be wise enough to leave the subject alone at this point on this eternal crossroad of redemption. We will understand it better by and by.

Understanding His Divine Blood
His blood was incorruptible and therefore could not be less than divine. Apostle Peter wrote of this great fact and prefaced it with a picture of the corruptible sacrifices of the First Testament. His words by the Holy Ghost were, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." (I Peter 1:18-20). This Scripture leaves no doubt as to the nature of His blood. It was incorruptible. There was no nature of sin, which is the source of all death, in His blood. It did have the human component, but without the curse of Adam. The blood had been sanctified, set apart, and infused with divine life by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost. Mary had asked this question when the angel announced to her that she was chosen of God to be the mother to the Messiah. "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that ‘holy thing’ which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:30-35).

The very term used by the angel was "Holy Thing." The word used by the angel for "Holy Thing" in the original was one word, "hagios" or "pure, blameless, and most holy." The act of the Holy Ghost overshadowing Mary was perfect insurance that no human or mortal impurity would touch the blood of the Son of God. He would be a perfect sacrifice to take away the sin of the world. You may argue whether the blood was "divine" or simply "sanctified and infused with the divine," but you certainly cannot reduce it to being simply "human." I prefer calling it "divine," because the Holy Ghost is Himself divine and His powers were infused in the womb of Mary; and Jesus was called "holy" or a "Holy Thing" before she was with child in the proper sense.

Jesus Christ lived His entire life with the tension of His two natures. As an unborn child in His mother’s womb, His presence caused Elizabeth and her unborn child, John, to be filled with the Holy Ghost. Luke stated, "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost." (Luke 1:39-41). He had noted earlier in His text concerning John the Baptist, "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb." (Luke 1:15). This is breathtaking! The presence of Jesus Christ, as an unborn, barely conceived baby in His virgin mother’s womb, filled two persons with the Holy Ghost. He was Mary’s baby, but the Father’s only begotten Son.

When they visited the temple at his twelfth year, the tension of His two natures was powerfully revealed. After unknowingly leaving Him in Jerusalem, they returned to find Him comfortably debating the doctors in the temple. Luke stated, "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." (Luke 2:46-47).

Imagine a twelve-year-old son missing for three days in an extremely busy city. Where did He sleep, eat, wash, change clothes, etc.? Then to find Him debating great theological truths and literally confounding theological doctors reveals the natures that were present in the young boy named Jesus. There was no discomfort in this Son of God/son of man in these experiences, and I’m sure there were a multitude of them.

Again, on the Mount of Transfiguration the two natures of His person came blazing through to three of His disciples. Jesus Christ and His three chosen leaders walked just like any men up into a private mountain getaway. Then, suddenly, something overwhelming occurred. The Holy Ghost said of Jesus, "And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid." (Matthew 17:2-6).

If the whole story was told of His life, the world could not contain the book. "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." (John 21:25).

His Body Was Incorruptible In Death
The picture of His life and death reveals the absolute certainty of His divine blood. Andrew Murray wrote of Him. "By shedding His precious, ‘divine’ blood as a sacrifice for our sin, by surrendering Himself in perfect obedience to the will of the Father, by a personal victory over sin, by bearing our punishment and curse, Jesus has conquered sin and rendered it powerless for us, also." (The Blood of the Cross, by Andrew Murray, Whitaker House, p. 41.)

Joseph S. Exell, author of a great set of commentaries, stated "The blood of Christ is omnipotent" (Biblical Illustrator, Joseph S. Exell, Baker Book House, Michigan, Vol. 22, Section on First Peter, p. 102), "never was blood like this" (Ibid, p. 103), "but among the things which are incorruptible and undefiled is the precious blood of Christ." (Ibid). "Should we not rather a thousand times say the preciousness of the blood of Christ was in the inward and personal, the spiritual and divine life which dwelt and throbbed in that blood?" (Ibid, p. 104). The blood of Jesus was precious without spot, incorruptible and filled with the divine life of God.

His death establishes this fact above debate. He died on the cross, not because they took His life but because He gave His life. He had carefully stated, "No man taketh it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:18). They could have crucified Him a thousand times and He would not have died had He not willingly "gave up the ghost." (John 19:30). He stated, "It is finished." (John 19:30). He commended His Spirit to the Father. (Luke 23:46).

But, now His body was in the tomb and His Spirit descended into Abraham’s bosom. For three days and nights He was in the heart of the earth and His natural body was buried in the Tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea. In three days and nights, while buried in a stuffy airless grave, the natural body would be corrupt and full of death. But His body was different because His blood was divine. Apostle Peter was perfectly aware of what occurred in that tomb because he was the first of Christ’s chosen disciples in that tomb after the Resurrection. John was with Peter in the tomb, although he paused on the outside having outrun Peter. Peter ran straight into the sepulcher.

What he saw he testified about in the Book of Acts after receiving the boldness of the Pentecostal Baptism. He proclaimed the Resurrection with a powerful proof of a personal witness. "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." (Acts 2:24, 2:27.) Peter was a witness that knew there was no death in that place of the dead. Notice again those words, "Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

The blood of the Son of God allowed absolutely no corruption to occur in that sepulcher for three full days and three full nights. That precious blood was preserved while the Spirit of the Son of man satisfied redemption for the Old Testament saints and led a victory march out of Upper Hell. The absence of corruption in death was an eternal testimony to that early church and no doubt it helped lay the foundation for the victory, which they experienced. They knew He was alive because they saw a resurrected Savior, Whom death could pass over without a mark of corruption.

Jesus Christ: "Who Through the Eternal Spirit"
The Scripture states that Jesus Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit without measure. "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34). He was the divine Son of God with every attribute of divinity. He was also the son of man with every attribute of humanity except the nature of sin. But, He was also filled with the Holy Ghost "without measure." This should satisfy all of our doubts as to the nature of His blood sacrifice. He freely offered Himself, but He also was empowered or aided by the Eternal Sprit or the person of the Holy Ghost. The first Scripture reference in this article stated, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself . . ." (Hebrews 9:14a). When we unite His sinless nature, divine in all essence, with the Holy Ghost, divine in all essence, together, this redemption of God becomes "supernatural to the uttermost." He saves from the "gutter most to the uttermost" and there are no limits with Him.

Conclusion: An Umbrella of Divine Blood
The true saints of God live under this umbrella. It is not a magical wand or some superstitious words. He is a person, the only Begotten Son, and our trust and assurance is in Him and His blood. We never separate the two. This blood is eternal in exactly the way He is eternal. His offering for sin was by the Eternal Spirit and that same Holy Spirit holds the present active office of the manifestation of all the redemptive acts of that blood.

The saints of God are invited to live by the blood of Jesus Christ. We enter the prayer closet by this blood. Our healing is by His blood and all victory over all the spiritual realm of evil is by His blood. The blood speaks in the Holy Scripture and speaks when the Holy Ghost is manifest among us. Victory awaits every believer that ceases to lean on flesh and learns to lean on this finished work of blood redemption.