We all have things that are precious. In most families there are heirlooms and keepsakes that are handed down through the generations. When these items are in our possession, we esteem them very highly. They become very valuable in sentiment because of whose they were and how they came into our possession. They are very precious. We would not entertain the offers of any serious buyer. The price just cannot be figured and no tender is a suitable medium of exchange. The verse before us proclaims that the blood of Christ is something very precious. To the saints of God it is the most precious because of whose it is and how it came to us. Let us make three observations concerning the blood of Christ. Firstly, the blood is indeed very precious. Secondly, the blood is an overcoming weapon. Thirdly, the blood has power.

Silver, gold, houses, or lands cannot be appropriately compared to it. The wealth of the world is not a sufficient scale with which to measure its worth. The gospel call invites the thirsty to "come ye to the waters." Those that are without money are encouraged to "buy wine and milk without money and without price." It is because the saving flow is of infinite, eternal value and cannot be priced.

The blood is precious because it is pure. Common man is wholly unclean. He is born in sin and completely defiled. The contrast is stark when we view him that "knew no sin." Even at the time of Christ’s death, there were those that testified he was just. Pilate found no fault in him. He was full of grace and truth. He led a sinless life and died a vicarious death. He wasn’t put to death for any transgression of his own, but he was "wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him." His blood was pure, with no taint of sin. How precious is the blood of the lamb! He did what no other could do. Man cannot save himself, much less give himself as an acceptable sacrifice for another. But our holy Lord and Savior was the sacrificial lamb, without spot or blemish.

The blood is also precious because it was offered in sacrifice. Christ testified that his blood was "shed for many for the remission of sins." Jesus did not die a helpless martyr. Nor did he give himself for some noble philanthropic cause. He did not die for righteous and good men. Rather, he laid down his life for sinners and ungodly people, the just for the unjust. He went willingly to the cursed tree for those that were enemies of God. He suffered the death of the cross for his sheep. He was an "offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour." The blood our Savior shed was acceptable to God. He gave himself for us and died that we might have life.

The blood is infinitely precious because it is the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus in the beginning "was with God" and "was God." Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God. It is his blood that we are discussing. We are amazed that the sovereign of the universe, who bears up the pillars of the earth, would take on the form of man and shed his own blood for our sins. "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." (Hebrews 9:12). He was conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of a virgin. He took on human nature but it was not fallen depraved nature. He in his divine nature mixed with his human nature perfected righteousness in the flesh. Praise God that the "Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us!" Praise God for our Savior and his precious blood!

Peter’s epistle is addressed to the elect. He is writing to give encouragement and exhortation to the saints. As we continue on our pilgrimage we meet with trouble and distresses. Yet, we have not been left comfortless. When the battle rages, we can look to the blood for victory.

The blood has overcome Satan. In the first chapter of Revelation, John relates the vision he had of Christ. John was one that had kept company with the Lord while he was on the earth. He testified that he had seen and handled of the Word of Life. But, the image he saw at this time was not that of a humble servant. It was not the one that had not anywhere to lay his head. He saw Christ in his glory. And when he looked upon him, he "fell at his feet as dead." The King then laid his hand on John and said, "Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." The blood has overcome death. John could be encouraged knowing that his master had overcome, and that on his behalf. What have we to fear? It was in the garden that Satan suffered the beginning of his ultimate end. Two men in shining garments announced, "He is not here." Satan could not tread down the Son of God. He had bruised his heel. He lay three days in the tomb. But, death could form no holding cell for our Lord.

"Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign."

The blood is used by the word of testimony. In the twelfth chapter of Revelation we are informed of saints that overcame Satan "by the blood of the Lamb." Satan is certainly our adversary and he acts with malice toward the pilgrims of Zion. He goes about "seeking whom he may devour." He accuses the brethren "day and night" before God. If we are ever forced to do battle with the serpent we shall be hard put to it. If we meet with Apollyon in the way, as did Christian in Bunyan’s immortal dream, we will have to call upon every resource available and trust every piece of armament that we possess. I do not doubt that we will receive wounds that will not soon be forgotten. Once engaged there is no retreat. We shall have to fight. We have no armor for our back. It is defeat or be defeated, for there can be no parley. On that day our only hope of victory is in the blood of the Lamb. We will have to "love not" our lives "unto the death." The word of our testimony will be our stay. Lazy, lukewarm Christians have not much hope to stand in that great conflict. But soldiers with hearts hot with the vehement flame of God’s love shall look to Christ and see their help coming.

The blood is a conquering weapon because it aligns us with God. We walked before in the ways of sin and "were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." We lived our days in sinful self-indulgence and were without hope and "without God in the world." But when God called us into His glorious light, we that were far off were "made nigh by the blood of Christ." And we are aligned with God. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). We have comfort that none can stay God’s hand. None can stand before Him in opposition. But all must give way to the King of glory. When we are nigh to Him, we can have faith that He will deliver us.

The blood of bulls and goats is not sufficient to "take away sins." All the blood shed upon Jewish altars could not remove sin. But God sent a perfect sacrifice, a Holy Lamb. The blood of Christ has power to cleanse from sin.

The blood can make garments white as snow. John saw a great multitude before the throne. One of the elders testified that the multitude were they that "have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." How blessed to know that no matter how stained and defiled your hands may be with sin, there is a cleansing flow.

"There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn for Immanuel’s veins;

And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,

Lose all their guilty stains:"

There is no spot that the blood cannot remove. There is wonder working power in the blood.

The blood provides access to God. The Levitical priests served as mediators between God and man. But they were just men. None save the priest could enter into the holiest where the glory of God resided between the Cherubs. But we now have "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus." The Savior has made a way of access to God for every believer. We can ascend and approach unto the throne of grace. We can cast our petitions before our God in the very throne room of His majesty. We are not stopped at the gates and refused entrance for lack of pedigree. We have one at the right hand that makes intercession for us. The blood shed by the Lamb has secured this great privilege.

Without the blood, you will ultimately perish. "He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12). You can get along without a lot of things in this life. However, if you have not the blood, you will spend eternity in a lake of fire. You will pass from this life and appear before a great white throne. You have not known the terror you will meet on that day. The one who sits on the throne, "from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away;" shall say "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." The only hope is in the blood of the Lamb.