Why the Blood of Jesus Still Leaves Me in Awe

Wow… just wow!

This fall, our women’s Bible study at church is Jen Wilkin’s Better study on Hebrews. Now, I’ve read Hebrews many times. In fact, my favorite scripture—the very first one I memorized—was Hebrews 13:5: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” 

I can’t tell you how often I’ve reminded myself: Kim, HE will not leave you. He will not forsake you. Oh, so many times. The way that verse met my heart in such a dark season of betrayal was overwhelming. Still, to this day, it lands exactly how I need it. His promise. My truth.

But girl, chapter nine of Hebrews! The blood. What Jesus did for us.

It leaves me dumbfounded. And I’ve been studying it for over 20 years. God’s word NEVER gets old for me. It never ceases to amaze me or teach me something new. It is alive and active.

In our women’s study group, we've been talking about how Christ is better—the better hope, the better high priest, the better sacrifice.

Do you watch The Chosen? I know, I know. Lots of people have a lot to say about watching it. Personally, I love it. I love imagining what it was like in the days Jesus walked the earth. It’s certainly not where I get my theology, but it endears me even more to Jesus and His followers.

Have you ever thought about the blood in the Old Testament? Not just what was required, but what it must have been like?

In Hebrews 9:14, the author talks about the tabernacle and the blood. Girls, there was a LOT of blood. When Moses read the law to the people in Exodus, they were told everything they could and couldn’t do. It was a hard list, yet they optimistically (or naively) said, “Yes! We will obey. We will keep all these laws.” 🙋‍♀️(Been there, done it. Still failing, BUT THE BLOOD.)

And what did Moses do? He immediately sprinkled blood all over them. (Exodus 24) All over everything, actually. Because he knew they wouldn’t obey. He knew their hearts would wander.

We’re not all that different, are we? Prone to wander. I mean, I could spend my days confessing my thought life. Oh, where this mind goes. I’m beyond grateful for the transforming HE does through His Word.

I’ve read the Old Testament numerous times, often skimming through the details, trying to understand who God is. It’s always been hard to read about the building details of the Tabernacle—the materials and measurements, kind of like the genealogy text. It’s easy to pass right over.

But, Jen Wilkin reminds us in her study to think about the blood. God’s people built a beautiful tabernacle to house God and His holiness. It was made out of that day's finest, most expensive material. There was gorgeous, expensive fabric.

Fabric that, year after year, had animal blood sprinkled on it. Can you imagine the stains? The smell? I’ve never thought about what the Israelites must have heard, seen, or smelled during Passover. ALL of the animals sacrificed. All the blood. So much blood.

The hearers of this letter, Hebrews, would have been more than familiar with the blood.

How could so many miss the Messiah?

Not just the better sacrifice and blood, but the perfect and final sacrifice and blood.

I didn’t realize until this week that the hearers of this letter were only about 50 years from the final destruction of the temple. So like God, right? In His compassion and goodness, HE made a way for them. A way that was final and perfect and forever. I can’t imagine how His heart broke for those who missed it. For those who still miss it.

One of my favorite songs is The Blood by David Funk. Man, it gets me. I had to listen to it this morning to be reminded of the power of the blood.

Have you met Jesus? I mean, truly encountered Christ?

It was about performance, perfection, striving, and gaining acceptance all my life. I was saved in 7^th grade, but didn’t start walking with the Lord until I was in my 30s. I still, after 20-plus years of intimately knowing God, struggle with the fear of man—something I’m praying the Lord entirely removes from me. (And yes, I know. Entirely means I will be face-to-face with Him.)

Oh, how I want to live the last half of my life boldly, unashamed for Christ.

Anyway, I love the line in the song: “When my shame hit the wayside and my sin met the Most High.”

I don’t know about you, but it took me a while to work through letting go of my shame. For years, I understood intellectually that God forgave my years of sin—living the world’s way—but I couldn’t get it at a heart level. Thus, the continued effort to earn God’s forgiveness and love.

BUT I kept seeking. I kept studying. I desperately wanted to know, truly know, this God that could love me and forgive me. Like, forgive me fully – from as far as the east is to the west. (Psalm 103:12) Forgiveness that meant He sees me as pure and unblemished.

Girllll… It seemed impossible.

But He does. And the more time I spent with Him, the deeper I understood and accepted grace and forgiveness. It still leaves me completely undone when I think about God’s love for us. The sacrifice of Jesus to live in a relationship with us. Mind blown.🤯

I did—and do—walk and talk differently now. NOT perfectly by any means. But nothing is more real to me than Jesus. Nothing is more important to me than my relationship with Him. He is the truth I base my life and hope on. He has been faithful and present in every season of my life. He is IT for me.

Jen shared her three P’s of the Gospel, which I loved:

1. Penalty – Jesus became the final sacrifice required to pay the penalty for the sins we can’t. (Isaiah 53:5-6, 1 Peter 2:24)

2. Power – Jesus ascended to the right hand of God in the heavenly place, where He intercedes (in Greek, it means intervenes) for us, asking for the power we need to overcome sin while we’re here on this planet. (Hebrews 1:3, 7:25, 8:1)

3. The third “P” is Presence—our promise that we will one day be in His presence forever, where there will be no more sin. No more evil or hate or disease or death. (Revelation 21:4)

Beloved, there is such power in the blood. Oh, that we live like it.

I’m just going to keep stressing – KNOW Him. Pursue Him every day. Study the Word for yourself. Nothing is more important. Nothing will free and sustain you like God will.

Just do it! You will never regret it!

Here's to knowing HIM,