Wouldn’t you think that if you wash something with blood, it would leave the object being washed stained in red? While reading a book from the Magic School bus series, with our beloved 6 year old Reuben, I was surprised to learn that the actual color of the fluid part of blood is not red (as I thought was the case) but instead it is ‘clear’. The presence of red blood cells gives the red color to blood. Now hold that thought, please.
One of the 2000 timeless classics written and edited by Elisha Albright Hoffman (1839-1929), a Presbyterian Pastor, is the famously sung hymn – ‘Are you washed in the Blood?” which originates from the Scriptural reference in Revelation 7:14 which states.”… and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
We wash our clothes with clean (clear) water, not water that is dirty (or colored), do we? Now only something that is clear can clean.
With sin man became corrupt and impure. Blood had to be shed for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22), but not just anyone’s blood. The blood that was to be shed, which would satisfy God’s justice, was that of a Lamb without blemish – in other words clear (of all sin) (Exodus 12:5). Jesus is the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God, sinless without blemish (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22) who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) and his blood cleanses us of all sins (1 John 1:7). Yes, all sin. If you are wondering that your lifestyle has been such, where you are beyond the reach of God’s love and grace, and unpardonable for the sins you have committed in the past, Jesus is saying, “Come let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, I will wash them white as snow, though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18). There is absolutely no one, no matter how sinful they have been, that is beyond the reach of the love of God and the cleansing power in his ‘clear’ (pure) blood.
Points to ponder:
The Blood of Jesus is clear and it cleans. Are you washed in the Blood – in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless – Are they white as Snow? Are you Washed in the Blood of the Lamb (of God)? Are you Washed by the Blood of Jesus Christ?
Matthew 26:28 (KJV)
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
1 John 1:7-9 (KJV)
7 But 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 cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Revelation 7: 14 (KJV)
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
