"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:14

            There are many wonderful truths surrounding the message of the cross.  None of which hold any more significance than the shedding of Christ's blood.  As you recall from the scriptures, God used the blood of an innocent animal to cover man's sin.  We find this as far back as Genesis chapter three, when God took the life of an animal and made coats of skin to cover man's nakedness. All throughout the history of man, we find the use of blood as a means of making covenants even among tribal nations.

            One of the most powerful truths concerning the use of blood was in Moses' day when God chose him to construct the tabernacle.  Every day sacrifices were made to atone for the sins of the people.  But, once a year God established a day called the Day of Atonement, what we might call the Atonement of Atonements, when the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and offer the blood of the paschal lamb upon the mercy seat.  This holy act of a sacred sacrifice was for the cleansing of the entire nation.  It was conducted every year to atone for "all" sin.

            The holy of holies was the most sacred place of all.  No one was allowed to enter, only the High Priest, and then only one time throughout the entire year.  It was here that the Ark of the Covenant rested and the glory of God did shine. But what seems most revealing is the fact that the only thing God would allow in this most sacred compartment was the blood.  Not only was it powerful enough to cover the sins of an entire nation, but it was holy enough to touch the deepest and most sacred place of all!

            Think of how just an animal's blood could bring such reconciliation!  Imagine the magnitude of the shedding of Christ's blood!  We are talking about something much more precious than just an innocent lamb. We are talking about the blood of the only begotten of the Father, the Most Holy Lamb of God!  Even as innocent as any animal could be of the guilt of man's transgression, there was nothing on earth that had not been touched by the fall.  Romans chapter eight tells us that "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain...waiting to be delivered from the bondage of corruption" (Rom. 8:20, 21).  Everything that was required to redeem mankind rested in the blood.  All an animal's blood could do was cover man's sin from year to year, but Christ's blood, once offered, satisfied every need in man for all eternity!  Hebrews chapter nine says, "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" (Heb 9:11, 12).

            What a marvelous truth! Later in this same chapter it reads: "For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth" (Heb. 9:17).  The moment Christ gave up his life a force was set in motion that not only settled forever the need for man's redemption, but became a "reckoning force" to neutralize the effects of all that came as a result of sin.  When the blood speaks from heaven it carries the full weight of Christ's victory over sin, sickness, poverty, death, hell, and the grave! There is nothing more powerful!  There is nothing more holy!  No wonder the scriptures tell us, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..." (Rev. 12:11).