When you make a mistake and the devil comes and tells you 'You're no good,' you don't have to take on the guilt and condemnation he wants to put on you. No! You can immediately confess your mistake to God, thank Him for forgiving you and cleansing you with the blood of Jesus, and move forward in the victory of His grace and forgiveness.— Joyce Meyer
The blood of Jesus is not just a sacrifice; it is also a declaration, a message that continues to speak today. It represents atonement, the new covenant between God and humanity, and a call to forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life.
Atonement, in its truest sense, is a substitutionary act. Just as we cannot remove the skin of the lamb while it remains alive, the blood spilled represents the life that takes the place of another who was meant to die.
Hebrews 12:24 says, "you have come to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than the blood of Abel." Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance against his brother. Jesus’ blood, however, speaks a different message, one of forgiveness and reconciliation. It speaks not only of what was accomplished in the past, but of a living reality that continues today, extending grace to all who humbly seek it.
Jesus' words on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), reveal this radical grace. Today, as we continue to explore the significance of the blood of Jesus, we focus on how His blood speaks into our lives in the present. It is not a historical event alone; His blood continues to offer forgiveness, healing, and transformation to all who receive it.
In Exodus 32:30-35, after the children of Israel sinned by worshipping the golden calf, Moses pleaded with God on their behalf. He asked for forgiveness for their sin, even offering himself as a substitute, saying, "If not, then blot me out of the book you have written." However, what Moses didn’t understand was that sin cannot simply be overlooked. It must be dealt with. It must be punished. There was a need for atonement, and atonement requires blood.
Paul makes this clear in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Sin brings death; nothing good can come from it. Moses, as a mediator, could not change the people's hearts or forgive their sin. His leadership, though great, was limited. He could not give them the new heart and the Spirit of God that would bring lasting transformation. There was a need for blood that could atone for sin once and for all.
One might ask: if Abel's blood could represent a type of sacrifice, why didn’t his ‘innocent’ blood suffice for atonement? Indeed, many parallels can be drawn between him and Jesus: both were hated without cause; their death was driven by envy; and both died violently at the hands of those closest to them.
Despite these parallels, Abel’s blood could not atone for sin, because it cried out for vengeance. The blood of Jesus, however, speaks a better word. While Abel’s blood cried for justice, the blood of Jesus speaks of mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Vengeance seeks to settle a score. It desires justice based on the wrong done. Jesus’ blood, however, does not seek vengeance but offers reconciliation, peace, and eternal redemption. Abel’s blood demanded justice for the wrong done to him, but the blood of Jesus, speaks of forgiveness, offering peace where there was once hostility.
But what does this mean for us today? The blood of Jesus is not just a historical event; His blood is still speaking mercy, forgiveness, and healing. When we fall short, when we sin, the blood of Jesus stands as a constant reminder that we are forgiven, redeemed, and restored. It is not a message of condemnation but of grace.
The blood of Jesus continues to speak in our daily lives, bringing the power to forgive, to reconcile, and to transform. It changes how we relate to others, helping us extend grace even when we are wronged. Through Jesus’ blood, we are empowered to offer the same forgiveness He extended on the cross. His blood speaks into our hearts, purifying us, cleansing us, and giving us the strength to live as God’s wills.
We see this power in the life of Stephen. As he was stoned to death, he didn’t cry out for vengeance. Instead, he followed Jesus’ example, praying for forgiveness for his killers: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:59–60). In that moment, Stephen’s life echoed the message of Jesus' blood, speaking mercy, not vengeance.
In a world that desperately needs reconciliation, Jesus’ blood is the message that brings true peace. It calls us to forgive, to heal, and to be transformed by the same mercy that His blood speaks on our behalf.