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But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13

Blood.  We know that for every creature, “its blood is its life” (Leviticus 17:14), yet the very connotation of the word can also bring thoughts of brutality, pain and death.  While the flow of blood sustains life, the shedding of blood ends it—at least in human terms.  As we introduce this new song, Thank You Jesus for the Blood, we as a church body have the opportunity to reflect on how Christ’s blood shed for us (Isaiah 53:5) and His subsequent resurrection (Matthew 28:5-6) secures and sustains abundant, eternal life. Jesus’ blood is for us life through death—just another example of how human understanding is often turned upside down in the context of God’s Kingdom (Philippians 1:21).

As I read through each day’s headlines, my heart breaks at the injustice, the malice and the lack of mercy exhibited between human beings. One needs to look no further than current events in Afghanistan or on the streets of our cities here at home. The bloodshed of innocents is a brutal reality of the fallen and broken condition of this world. It’s more than my frail flesh can handle, and I cry out, “Jesus, have mercy. Come quickly.”

But then I’m reminded of the ultimate Innocent One, whose blood was shed: God’s Son who dwelt among us (Matthew 1:23, John 1:14), lived a sinless life (1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15) and formed human bonds as a son, a brother, a cousin, and a friend over the course of thirty-some years.  He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and to reconcile us to the Father while we were still sinners and enemies of God (Romans 5:8-10).  In the greatest act of mercy and love ever witnessed, Jesus took on the depravity of the entire world and every generation (2 Corinthians 5:21) as He willingly submitted to the brutality of Roman crucifixion.  His innocent blood was shed and applied as payment for our sin, satisfying the wrath of a just and Holy God, and securing our salvation once and for all, forever and ever (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus stands in stark contrast to the fallen world we navigate—and rarely is this contrast more visible than when we gaze upon the brutality and the beauty of the cross.

So as we sing the words of this song together and reflect on the cost of our atonement, may we remember who we were (and are) apart from the grace of Christ. May we recall that the old has passed away, crucified and buried with Christ in the likeness of His death. May we rejoice that the new has come, raised anew in the likeness of His life.  May we remember the price that was paid in our Savior’s blood to purchase us from sin and death. And may we sing out in humble gratitude for the Savior who applied His blood to our debt and paved the way back to Him.

Thank you, Jesus.

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Thank You Jesus for the Blood

I was a wretch, I remember who I was.
I was lost, I was blind
I was running out of time
 
Sin separated, the breach was far too wide
But from the far side of the chasm
You held me in Your sight

So You made a way across the great divide
Left behind Heaven's throne
To build it here inside

And there at the cross, You paid the debt I owed
Broke my chains, freed my soul
For the first time I had hope
 
CHORUS
Thank you, Jesus, for the blood applied
Thank you, Jesus, it has washed me white
Thank you, Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
 
You took my place
Laid inside my tomb of sin
You were buried for three days
And then You walked right out again
 
And now death has no sting
And life has no end
For I have been transformed
By the blood of the Lamb
 
BRIDGE
There is nothing stronger
Than the wonder-working power of the blood, the blood
That calls us sons and daughters
We are ransomed by our Father
Through the blood, the blood