Oh The Blood Of Jesus

HoHum:

Have the children come up front and do a Children’s Minute (http://www.sermons4kids.com/r_w_b.html)

Tomorrow we will celebrate Memorial Day. Who do we honor on Memorial Day?

This morning I want to talk about the flag of the United States of America. (Go over and talk about the flag behind the pews where children sit). What colors make up our flag? Have you ever stopped to think what those colors mean?

Red: Red stands for courage. Many men and women have had the courage to stand up and fight for our country. They have defended our country against our enemies and many have died in the service of our country.

White: White stands for purity. Purity means to do what is right. We hope and pray that our country will always stand for what is right.

Blue: Blue stands for justice. (If not already said, have everyone say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag) We end with the words: "With liberty and justice for all." That means that in our country, everyone should be treated fairly and with respect.

The colors red, white, and blue remind me of our country, but they also remind me of Jesus.

Red reminds me of Jesus’ blood that was shed when he died on the cross for my sin. That is very important, because the Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:22)

White reminds me that when I give my heart and life to Jesus (mention baptism), he washes me and I become as "white as snow." (Isaiah 1:18) The Bible says, "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 6:10)

Blue reminds me of God’s faithfulness. Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” God is faithful to keep His promises.

Red, white, and blue. Yes, I am reminded of our great country, but more importantly, I am reminded of our great Savior, Jesus.

WBTU:

Many soldiers have given their blood so that we can worship freely. In our country’s 235 years the price of freedom has been 12 wars and OVER 653,000 lives. Freedom is not cheap.

The price of forgiveness of sins was not cheap either. It cost Jesus Christ his life.

Christianity has been accused of being a “bloody religion.” We have to plead guilty. The word blood is found 463 times in Scripture. The center of the Christian faith is the cross of Christ, and crucifixion was a bloody death.

“Blood” is mentioned 23 times in Hebrews. It is used 12 times in chapter 9. Over 1/2

A lot of the blood in ch. 9 is the blood of the OT sacrifices. This chapter talks a lot about the earthly tabernacle and the blood of bulls and goats. The Jewish religion was one of the bloodiest known to man. If we count just the official public sacrifices required by the Law of Moses, the number of animals whose blood was shed comes to 1,273 a year- about 2 million animals from Moses to Christ.

This figure does not include personal and private sacrifices that were talked about in the Law. Many more than 1,273 a year. Josephus records that during one Passover around the time of Christ some 256,000 lambs were killed.

The blood was important from these animals. Sacrificial animals were bled to death. That blood was caught in bowls and used in temple rituals. Vs. 22.

Praise the Lord that the sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient for all time and for all people. Once for all is used in Romans 6:10, Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 9:26, 10:10, 1 Peter 3:18.

If we went to the tabernacle, or temple during the time of the Jewish nation under the OT, we would see a lot of blood. It would be everywhere. This morning, as we worship, we do not see blood. However, the blood of Jesus is symbolically displayed all over this auditorium.

Thesis: Where do we see Jesus’ blood?

For instances:

1. Blood like Cup (Point to communion table)

1 Corinthians 11:23-25: For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Christ must have chosen the fruit of the vine because its color reminds us of His blood.

2. Blood drenched cross (Point to cross on front of pulpit, top of Christian flag, top of building on the steeple, on wall behind baptistry, probably necklaces)