Series: Jesus’ Blood for Me
“From Jesus’ Side”
Romans 5:12-14, 18-19
Pastor John Bright
Romans 5 “12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”
“18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”
Miss Abigale was the one church member sure to stick her nose into everyone’s business.
One day, she accused George, a new member and a man of few words. She told him, in front of others, that he must be a drunk because his truck had been seen in front of the town’s only bar. George did not defend himself. He just walked away.
That same evening, George parked his truck in front of Miss Abigale’s home and left it there all night. 😊
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Today, I want to talk about fun things… like gossip.
Gossip is an intentional, wrong action. It’s something we choose to do, even though we would NEVER want somebody else to do it to us. Sounds like I should invoke the Silver Rule like I did when my kids were young: “Don’t do something to another person if you wouldn’t want them to do it to you.” I have been teaching you that the Bible refers to those intentional actions as transgressions.
History of Roman Crucifixion
This a medical description of what happens:
DEATH BY CRUCIFIXION: SLOW SUFFOCATION
1 - Shallowness of breathing causes small areas of lung collapse.
2 - Decreased oxygen and increased carbon dioxide cause acidic conditions in the tissues.
3 - Fluid builds up in the lungs. Makes the situation in step 2 worse.
4 - The heart is stressed and eventually fails.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/terasaka_david/misc/crucify.cfm
It was at the end of this process that Jesus bled from His side. It is the last in the sequence. A few folks have figured out the first way Jesus bled for us. He was circumcised on the eighth day after His birth. That blood was applied to fulfill the law of Moses for all of us.
Roman crucifixion was a long, drawn-out process that often lasted for several days. This was not the case for Jesus - "Pilate marveled that He was already dead…" Mark 15:44.
What happens on that cross?
• With weight on the wrists - the chest is stretched when the person is slumped over - able to take only shallow breaths without a full exhale - pain increases on the wrists
• Weight is transferred to the feet and the person pushed up- full exhale is possible - pain increases in the feet
• Time after time the person slumps down again - eventually exhaustion makes the transfer of weight to the feet impossible – the person can’t push up anymore and the respiratory muscles cramp and stop working – this process is sped up when the lower leg bones are broken
• There is also a slow buildup of fluid (serum) in the lungs and around the heart
We see the evidence of these effects when a Roman soldier uses his spear on Jesus - John 19:33-34 "33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out."
The Roman soldier would have used a spear like this one. Coming in from the side, he would have put the tip of his spear into the lungs and pericardial sac. These would have filled up with a reddish serum: a liquid that is a mix of plasma and blood.
Our problem with transgressions
Transgressions are willful disobedience. Transgressions go all the way back to Adam. Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”
From last week’s scripture: Isaiah 53:5 “… He was wounded for our transgressions.” In Hebrew, that word refers to a puncture or piercing wound, like a spear.
We tolerate all kinds of transgressions in our lives and inside the church. What did I mention first this morning? I got your attention when I mentioned gossip. Is it right or wrong?
Another one I keep mentioning is unforgiveness. Is it right or wrong?
What about discontentment? You know, not being content with what you have. Is it right or wrong?
There are so many of these I could go on and on. Wouldn’t it be great if there was some kind of a comprehensive list? Hey, there is one!
Proverbs 6:16-19
“16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.”
All our sins, and transgressions, and iniquities – God hates them all! And then God loves us sooooo much! God knew we would need a way out of our willful disobedience. Jesus is THAT WAY! That’s what happened when Jesus died as our Passover Lamb.
Power in the Blood
All the Passover lambs were killed by bleeding and the blood was collected in a bowl. Then, it was applied to the door on the two sides and the top. Exodus 12:7 “And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.” They had three surfaces to cover. We need to cover our sins, transgressions, and iniquities. These are all connected, like the parts of a door. Sins refer to those wrong things we do unintentionally. That’s one I have to turn to all the time with my wife, “I didn’t mean to upset you!” 😊 Transgressions are intentional. Iniquities are the driving force within us that leads to sins and transgressions.
Today, we live our lives beyond the Cross of Calvary where Jesus paid the price for us. We are forgiven! You are forgiven! I am forgiven! AMEN! And yet, we still struggle. Many struggle to forgive themselves. Why? I think it’s due to unbelief. We hold onto the unbelief in the power of the blood shed on Calvary.
In Mark 9, the Disciples of Jesus are unable to cast the demon from a boy. His father pleads with Jesus and we have this exchange: “23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Maybe we think, if Jesus was right here… maybe it would work. Maybe then I could be forgiven.
Let me explain to you the miracle of Jesus’ blood. One drop could save the whole world. Jesus shed massive amounts of blood from His hands and feet, from His back, and from His side. That shedding of blood was powerful and effective in forgiving the sins/transgressions/iniquities of men and women, boys and girls going all the way forward to the end of time.
There’s an old saying: If you were the only one, Jesus would have still died on that cross.
Here’s how a couple of folks put it:
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” St. Augustine of Hippo(354-430 AD)
“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis from Perelandra (1943)
God has forgiven you... can you forgive yourself?
Homework:
• Look up all the Bible verses on your teaching sheet. Do you struggle with forgiving yourself? Do you believe in the awesome power of Jesus’ blood to forgive even you? EVEN ME!?
• Do you believe that gossip is wrong/sinful? Check out these verses: 1 Peter 2:1, James 1:26, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 6:19, 11:13, 16:28, 18:8, 20:19, 26:20. In God’s Holy Word, gossip is always condemned. So, why is it accepted in so many congregations?
• Next week: Series: “Jesus’ Blood for Me” Joshua 24:14-16 “From His Head”
I’m thankful to Dr. Dale M. Sides for his book, “Perfect Redemption: The Purpose of His Passion” 2004. You can find the book through his website: https://lmci.org/
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TEACHING SHEET
Series: Jesus’ Blood for Me
“From Jesus’ Side”
Romans 5:12-14, 18-19
Teaching sheet for 3/23/25
History of Roman Crucifixion
This a medical description of what happens:
DEATH BY CRUCIFIXION: SLOW SUFFOCATION
1 - Shallowness of breathing causes small areas of lung collapse.
2 - Decreased oxygen and increased carbon dioxide cause acidic conditions in the tissues.
3 - Fluid builds up in the lungs. Makes the situation in step 2 worse.
4 - The heart is stressed and eventually fails.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/terasaka_david/misc/crucify.cfm
Mark 15:44.
What happens on that cross?
• With weight on the wrists - the chest is stretched - able to take only shallow breaths without a full exhale - pain increases on the wrists
• Weight is transferred to the feet - full exhale is possible - pain increases in the feet
• Time after time the person slumps down again - eventually exhaustion makes the transfer of weight to the feet impossible - the respiratory muscles cramp and stop working
• There is also a slow buildup of fluid (serum) in the lungs and around the heart
John 19:33-34
Our problem with transgressions
Transgressions are willful disobedience. Transgressions go back to Adam.
Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”
Isaiah 53:5 “… He was wounded for our transgressions.” In Hebrew, that word refers to a puncture or piercing wound, like a spear.
Proverbs 6:16-19
All our sins, and transgressions, and iniquities – God hates them all! And then God loves us sooooo much! God knew we would need a way out of our willful disobedience. Jesus is THAT WAY! That’s what happened when Jesus died as our Passover Lamb.
Power in the Blood
Exodus 12:7
In Mark 9:23-24 Maybe we think, if Jesus was right here… maybe it would work.
There’s an old saying: If you were the only one, Jesus would have still died on that cross. Here’s how a couple of folks put it:
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”
St. Augustine of Hippo(354-430 AD)
“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis from Perelandra (1943)
God has forgiven you... can you forgive yourself?
Homework:
• Look up all the Bible verses on your teaching sheet. Do you struggle with for-giving yourself? Do you believe in the awesome power of Jesus’ blood to for-give even you? EVEN ME!?
• Do you believe that gossip is wrong/sinful? Check out these verses: 1 Peter 2:1, James 1:26, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 6:19, 11:13, 16:28, 18:8, 20:19, 26:20. In God’s Holy Word, gossip is always condemned. So, why is it ac-cepted in so many congregations?
• Next week: Series: “Jesus’ Blood for Me” Joshua 24:14-16 “From His Head”
I’m thankful to Dr. Dale M. Sides for his book, “Perfect Redemption: The Purpose of His Passion” 2004. You can find the book through his website: https://lmci.org/
