06.03. Christ's Blood More Precious than Gold!
Christ’s Blood More Precious than Gold!
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect!" 1 Peter 1:18-19
How great is the price which has been paid for man’s redemption! If a prisoner of war, shut up within the walls of some gloomy fortress, were to see a bag of gold sent for his ransom, by the Sovereign whom he had faithfully served — what thankfulness would fill his breast! But much more than this has been given for us. In tender compassion for our souls, no less a price has been paid by Christ than His own precious blood.
He saw us perishing in our sins;
He saw us in captivity to the Prince of Darkness;
He saw us tied fast by chains that we ourselves could never break
— and then He came to redeem us! He poured out upon the cross, the blood that was to be the means of our everlasting salvation.
Reader, how infinitely precious is this blood. Ever since the fall has God been reminding man of this truth.
Look at the blood of Abel’s offering, which God accepted — while the offering of Cain was rejected.
Look at the blood of the Paschal lamb sprinkled upon the door posts of the Israelites, and which saved their firstborn from death.
Look at the streams of blood continually flowing from Jewish altars.
Look at the blood which the High Priest, once every year, on the great day of atonement, sprinkled before the mercy-seat.
Look at the blood with which Moses sprinkled both the book and all the people.
What were these, but so many voices by which God was telling men, in Old Testament times, of the value and the preciousness of the blood, which should hereafter be shed?
Look at that commemorative rite — that holy ordinance — which Christ instituted before His death, and which has ever since been so distinguishing a mark of Christ’s Church. Consider how, throughout the last eighteen centuries, Christians have continually been meeting together to partake of that cup, of which Jesus said, "This is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sin." Surely in this way God has ever been teaching His people the preciousness of the blood which was shed for our salvation.
It may be a profitable inquiry for us to make:
Oh, ponder well this deep and mysterious truth. Little can we fathom it! Yet was it God Incarnate — God in our nature — the Eternal Word made flesh — who died for man’s salvation How marvelous it was! His own hand had fashioned the very wood upon which He was nailed!
He Himself gave breath to the very men who cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!"
It was His power which gave strength and nerve to the arm which pierced His side with the cruel spear!
Yes! the Creator and Preserver of man — the King of kings and Lord of lords, He before whom angels worshiped, crying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!" — He it was who suffered a shameful and cruel death at the hands of His own creatures!
What a mystery of love!
It is written in Psalms 116:1-19, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." How infinitely precious then must be the blood-shedding of His own dear Son! What infinite efficacy must that blood possess as the ransom for our souls!
Again, this blood is also precious because it is pure and holy.
Christ was "Holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners." (Hebrews 7:26.) As it was needful that the lamb offered as the daily sacrifice in the temple must be without blemish — so it was necessary that Jesus should be free from the least taint of evil — and so He was. He mingled with sinners at every turn — He mingled with them in the temple and in the synagogue, in their streets and in their homes. It was thrown in His teeth that He was "the friend of publicans and sinners." On another occasion it was brought as a charge against Him: "This man receives sinners, and eats with them!" (Luke 15:2.) The charge was true — He loved to go among sinners that He might save and help them — yet all the while not the shadow of pollution ever defiled His pure and holy character. He could appeal to His foes, and say, "Which of you convinces Me of sin?"
Listen also to the various testimonies given to His perfect sinlessness:
Hear the witness of those who were His most intimate companions, who had been with Him at all seasons: Peter declares that He was a "Lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:20); and again, "He did no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth." John, who lay on His bosom, declares, "You know that He was manifested to take away our sins — and in Him was no sin." (1 John 3:5.)
Hear the witness of His enemies — those who shared in the guilt of His crucifixion: Pilate declares, "I find in Him no fault at all!" And again, "I am innocent of the blood of this innocent man!" Judas, the traitor, declares, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." The Centurion at the cross declares, "Certainly this was a righteous man!" The Devils too confessed the innocence of the Savior, for they cried, "We know You who You are — the Holy One of God." And the Father Himself bore witness to it, when He declared, at His Baptism, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
Here we have friends and enemies, devils and God Himself — all uniting their witness to the perfect holiness of Christ. Surely then this blood must be precious.
Here is another element of its unfailing efficacy: it is the blood of One who, as man’s substitute, as man’s representative, offered a perfect and sinless obedience to the Law which man had broken.
Again this blood is precious because it is the pledge and expression of infinite compassion and love. The very least gift is valued if it comes as the fruit of genuine love; and surely nothing was ever such a proof of love — a love so incomprehensible, so amazing — as the blood of Christ. By three steps we may learn to know a little of the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge:
1. His words. Oh, what bright glimpses of the love which dwelt in Christ’s heart may we gain — if we listen to the words which fell from His lips! Hear but a few.
"Come unto Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28.)
"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore — you are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7.) "The Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10.) "Him that comes to Me I will never cast out." (John 6:37.) "If any man thirsts, let him come unto Me and drink." (John 7:37.) "I am the good Shepherd — the good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (John 10:11.) "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you." (John 15:9.)
Oh, what beams from the Sun of Righteousness are these gracious words! Well may they dispel every doubt and fear from the soul that seeks Him.
2. Rise a step higher. Look at Christ’s tears. Christ had but one day of triumph during His thirty-three years’ sojourn upon earth. It was the day when He entered Jerusalem, shortly before His death, amidst the Hosannas of the multitude: "The multitude that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." (Matthew 21:9.) On that day did Jesus weep. "He beheld the city and wept over it." (Luke 19:41.)
Oh, what a deep well of compassion in the Savior’s heart do those tears reveal! If you saw a father weeping before he took the rod to punish a rebellious child — would you not say the father had a deep love for the child, whom he felt compelled to punish? So when we see Christ weeping before He sent the scourge of the Roman army to destroy the city which He loved — must we not own the greatness of His pity and compassion?
Yes, those tears tell us how Jesus pitied the souls of those who were perishing in their sins — and He is still the same. Every tear He shed assures us that He still yearns over the guilty and the lost. Oh, how should the tears of Christ melt and subdue our proud and stony hearts! How ought they to quicken us to a true and hearty repentance!
3. Rise a step higher. His precious blood. Christ’s words reveal His love, still more His tears — but most of all, the blood which He shed. When the Jews saw the tears which Jesus shed at the tomb of Lazarus His friend, they rightly judged when they said, "Behold how He loved him!" When we see the drops of precious blood falling on Calvary, when we see the blood flowing from His pierced temples, from His wounded hands and feet and side, well may we say, "Behold, how He loved us!"
Bear in mind that the suffering in body, the shame and the scoffing, were but the least part of that which He endured for our sake. His holy soul was burdened with the weight of man’s transgression. How agonizing was the conflict, when thrice He prayed in the garden, that if it were possible the cup might pass from Him! How great was the inner darkness of His soul, when on the cross there arose that exceeding great and bitter cry, "My God, my God! Why have You forsaken Me!"
It has been said, "Christ received into His own bosom every arrow of God’s quiver, and every one dipped in the poison of the curse!" Here then is love. In the blood of the cross, we find the proof of such love as man never before could conceive: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13.)
Again: the blood of Christ is precious because it has power to cleanse from all guilt. How great is man’s need of cleansing and forgiveness! Consider the vast amount of guilt that lies at the door of every unpardoned sinner. Take the life of any one who is yet a stranger to God; judge his life in the light of God’s holy law, and who can tell how great the debt — how countless the iniquities of such a one?
Begin with acts of positive disobedience — dishonest gains, deceits, secret sins which the world knows nothing of — such things as even natural conscience will reprove. Add to these, sins of the tongue — lying words, profane words, angry words, murmuring words, vain and foolish words, remembering the solemn declaration of Christ, "Truly I say unto you, that for every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36.) Add to these, multitudes of unhallowed thoughts and imaginations, unchaste and unholy desires, crowds of sinful and vain thoughts, as many as the motes in the sunbeam, remembering again the Word of God: "The thought of foolishness is sin." (Proverbs 24:9.) Add all these together, and who can count their number?
I have seen a strange list, the catalogue of the crimes of a man who was executed at Norfolk Island, with the punishment he received for each offence, and this list was between two and three yards in length — but what was this compared to the catalogue of each man’s transgressions against the Most High? We might almost say that this catalogue, written out by the hand of God, would reach from earth to Heaven, applying the words of Ezra: "Our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up into the heavens."
Perhaps, however, we gain a more impressive view of this truth if we regard the life of an unconverted man as one continuous sin. What was the life of the younger son, in the parable given in Luke 15:1-32, while he remained in the far country? Was not every moment a moment of rebellion and ingratitude, and therefore one continuous sin? No doubt there were hours of grosser iniquity — hours when he plunged deeper into excess — yet was not his whole life, and every moment of it, sinful and rebellious?
Now it is just so with every sinner, until he has yielded to the merciful call of God — until he has come home as a penitent to the Father’s house. Each moment of his life he is plainly disregarding the first and great commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might." What moment, therefore, is he not disobeying God and therefore sinning against Him?
Oh, careless, thoughtless sinner! Be assured of this — your life is one long continued sin, extending from your birth to this very moment. Wherever you may be — in the house of God, or in the house of business, in the field, or walking by the way-side, in some scene of worldly dissipation, or by your own fireside; whatever you may be doing — eating or drinking, talking or sleeping, rising in the morning or going to rest at night, yes, even going through a routine of worship, reading your accustomed chapter of Scripture, or repeating certain forms of prayer — yet until you return to God, with hearty and sincere repentance, still, every moment you are sinning against Him. But take the life of the child of God, and see even here how much sin there is that needs the constant exercise of pardoning mercy.
Look at it in this light: put the cleanest linen beside the freshly driven snow — how soiled, how discolored does it appear! So compare the life of the holiest child of God with the life of Christ. Consider . . .
His meekness,
His purity and holiness,
His prayerfulness,
His self-denial,
His constant zeal in His Father’s work,
His tender compassion both for the bodies and the souls of men
— and then side by side with this put the life of the believer. How great is the contrast! In the life of the believer —
how much evil is mingled with the good!
How much is of the earth, earthy!
How much deadness and coldness of heart!
How much selfishness and sloth!
How much regard to present appearances, rather than the will of God!
How many backslidings!
How many wanderings in prayer!
How many neglects of duty!
How many lost opportunities of usefulness!
Truly, the believer has need to echo the lament of Isaiah the prophet: "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags! All of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away!" (Isaiah 64:6.)
Now in sight of all this amount of guilt, both on the part of the unconverted man and on that of the child of God — God offers, in every case, a perfect, everlasting forgiveness, through the blood of His Son. The promise of Isaiah is full and free: "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson — I will make them as white as wool!" (Isaiah 1:18.) But the anxious soul, beholding the justice and strictness of God’s law, is ready to ask: What can remove guilt so great as mine? What can take away these ark blots that have defiled my life?
John gives us the answer, in that oft quoted declaration: "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin!"
Paul again has said: "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7.)
Reader, be assured of this — there is a power and efficacy in the blood of the Cross that can enable the guiltiest and vilest sinner to stand spotless in the sight of a holy God — a power that can pacify the most distressed and burdened conscience. But perhaps there may be in your case, some peculiarity, some special aggravations of your guilt — so that you may imagine pardon to be next to impossible for you. There may be the remembrance of some dark hour of iniquity that rises up, offtimes like a thick cloud, to hide from you the light of God’s countenance. Your constant failures, your broken resolutions, your sad lack of repentance and faith and love — may sorely pain and grieve you. Do not yield to the voice of the Tempter, who would persuade you to cast away your confidence in the blood of sprinkling. Is your sin a grief and a burden to you? Do you wish to forsake it and walk before God in newness of life? Do you endeavor to watch and pray against it?
Then doubt not for a single moment there is pardon for you. Remember Luther’s dream: It seemed to him, that the Tempter brought before him the sins with which he was chargeable in a single day. One by one he wrote them all out before him, and then asked him how such a one as he could be saved? Luther owned them all — but wrote at the close of the long, dark catalogue, "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin." The blood of Christ is also precious, because it brings the sinner near to God. It is written, "Now in Christ Jesus you who once were afar off are made near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13.)
Through the blood of Christ, not only is sin forever removed — but the sinner is received and welcomed as a dear child! Not now is he the pardoned rebel — not the hired servant, but the child very near to the Father’s heart. Once the sinner stood afar off; once he was ready to cry out, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" Once he shrank with fear from the presence of One whose holiness condemned his sin! But now, how changed are his feelings! The blood of Jesus has won the heart for God.
Fear of God is gone — love to God has taken its place.
Now he delights to draw near to the throne of grace.
Now he loves to ponder the gracious promises which his Father has given him.
Now he desires to walk closely with God, and to obey His commandments. As a dear child can he now cry, "Abba, Father!" He can rest all his cares and sorrows upon a Father’s heart. Whatever may befall him during his earthly pilgrimage, he can still rejoice that God is near to him as a reconciled Father.
"So near, so very near to God!
I cannot nearer be,
For in the person of His Son,
I am as near as He.
"So dear, so very dear to God!
I cannot dearer be,
For the love with which He loves His son,
Such is His love to me."
Lastly, the blood is precious because it brings the sinner safely to glory. Here is the final blessing, here is the full joy purchased for the sinner by the blood of Christ — it brings him safe to the shores of the heavenly Canaan.
What that world will be, remains as yet unrevealed to us. What the brightness and glory of that city of the living God, where there is no need of the sun or moon to lighten it; what the joyful rest of that home, where the door is forever shut against sin, and fear, and care, and temptation, and suffering, and death — no heart can conceive or tongue describe!
Reader, picture to yourself that great assembly and Church of the first-born. See the whole family gathered together around the throne. See the many who come from the North and from the South, from the East and from the West — of every kindred and nation and people and tongue. See the perfect holiness in which they shine. See the unclouded glory which belongs to them. See the Lamb Himself in the midst, leading them to living fountains of waters, still opening to them fresh streams of everlasting bliss. Hear the anthem of redeeming love, which arises from every tongue: "Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb!"
Then inquire, "Why are they here? Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" An angel shall give the answer. "These are those who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple!" (Revelation 7:14-15.)
Notice the word "therefore." Here is the one single reason that the glorious company of the redeemed could stand before the throne: they had washed away their sins in the Savior’s blood. Every one will rejoice to confess it — "All this glory, my mansion, my inheritance, my crown, my kingdom — all has been won for me by Jesus! It is the gift of His wondrous love — it is the purchase of His precious blood!"
I ask, therefore, is not this blood precious? Remember whose blood it is: that of the Eternal Son of God. Remember how pure and holy was the character of Him who shed it. Remember it is the gift of a love far beyond all our thoughts. Think . . .
how many a guilty conscience it has relieved,
how many a weary heart it has comforted,
how many a bright hope of glory it has given.
Think what multitudes who once were perishing in the mire of sin — near to Hell, near to eternal ruin — it has cleansed, purified, and brought to everlasting salvation.
Ob, may the eternal Spirit reveal these things to us! It is His work alone to do it. May He convince us of our manifold and great iniquities! May He lead us truly, deeply, solemnly, to feel the mighty power of that blood, by which they can be completely and forever removed!
Let me close with a few words of counsel suggested by this subject.
Beware of the guilt and danger of neglecting this precious blood! This is the greatest act of disobedience. The first and great commandment of the law was, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." The great commandment of the Gospel is that we should believe in Christ: "This is His commandment — That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 3:23.) Without obedience to this, no duty can be acceptable to God. Our very first act of acceptable obedience, must be believing in Christ — washing away our sins in His most precious blood.
Again, is it not the deepest ingratitude to neglect this blood? Has the Son of God come down from Heaven? Has He taken our nature that He might bear the curse which belonged to us? Has He died in suffering, in shame, upon the cross? Has He, at such a cost, opened a fountain for the cleansing of our souls? And is it no ingratitude to refuse to go to it? Is it no ingratitude to turn from His cross, and to refuse His offered mercy? Be sure of this — no love was ever so great as that of Christ, in the blood which He shed for sinners — and no ingratitude can be so great as making light of His salvation.
Beware too of the danger of neglecting this blood. What safety is there for a single moment, except beneath its shelter? If the Israelite had neglected to sprinkle the lintel and door-posts of his dwelling with the blood of the paschal lamb, the destroying angel would have entered and smitten his first-born. And if the sinner neglects to have his heart and conscience sprinkled by faith with the blood of Christ, assuredly the angel of justice will not spare him. There can be no salvation — none whatever — for those who will not take it through the blood of Christ.
Let every one who desires salvation, take up his dwelling-place near to this Fountain opened for sin and impurity. To every one who asks the way to Zion — who longs for a full and everlasting forgiveness — I would give a short and plain direction. It is that given by Elisha to the Syrian leper: "Wash, and be clean!" Are you just waking from the sleep of sin — just discovering for the first time how great is your guilt before a just and holy God? The message is for you. Jesus has died — the fountain is open — the promise is free. "Whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved!" Go in faith, with the prayer, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow!" The answer shall come: "Son, or daughter, be of good cheer, your sins be forgiven!" Are you a backslider? Have you turned away from Christ? Do you feel as if such sin could never be pardoned? Yet despair not. It is true you have brought dishonor upon the name of Christ; you have brought up an evil report of the good land; you have in fact said to those around you, "I have tried the world, and I have tried Christ — and the world is the best master." Still, once again, turn to Christ — like Peter, return to Him in true penitence and faith. His blood shall cleanse your sin — even your’s. Only try it, and the promise shall be fulfilled to you: "I will heal their backslidings, I will love them freely, for my anger is turned away from them." (Hosea 14:4.) Are you a believer, clinging only to Jesus, and yet often distressed on account of your manifold sins and infirmities? Here is your safety, here is your comfort — a continual resort to this Open Fountain. Like Naaman, in Jordan, wash seven times — yes, seventy times seven. This fountain is the only place on earth where sin and doubt and fear die — and where grace and holiness and love thrive and grow. When the remembrance of sin comes over you like a dark shadow, then go to the fountain — wash and be clean! When you kneel down at the mercy-seat and desire with confidence to draw near to God — then wash and be clean! (Hebrews 10:19-22.) When you feel how imperfect and defiled have been your prayers, how every Sabbath service has been mingled with sin; when you feel that such worship cannot be accepted — again go to the fountain: wash and be clean! When the closing hour draws near, and face to face you meet the King of terrors; when your last chapter has been read, when you have borne your last testimony for the Savior whom you love — still abide by the fountain. Bathed in its precious waters, let your spirit ascend to your Father in Heaven. Entering your eternal rest, you shall join more fully in the song of the redeemed, which you have learned to sing here on earth: "Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father — to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever! Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6.) Let the believer live in constant remembrance of the price which has been paid for his redemption.
Believer, did Jesus give His precious blood for you, to save you from Hell and damnation, to give you peace of conscience, to make you a child of God and an heir of eternal glory — then what will you withhold from Him? Oh, surrender yourself wholly, unreservedly to His service! "You are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:20.)
Oh, think of the debt of love you owe, and endeavor to make some return for it, by laying yourself and all you have at His feet. Time, talents, influence, wealth — freely yield to the Savior who has bought you! Employ every member of your body as an instrument of righteousness for Him. The hand, the foot, the eye, the ear, the tongue, all may be used for His glory, and to promote the extension of His kingdom. Above all things, live daily, hourly, as in the sight of God; adorn your profession by a very loving, holy, prayerful, Christ-like life. Abide in Christ by faith. Rely upon him every hour for fresh supplies of grace, for fresh anointings of his quickening, sanctifying spirit. Look forward to his appearing: "Yet a little while, and He who shall come will come, and will not tarry." (Hebrews 10:37.)