The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1Jo 1:7 NIV)

My dear brothers, the blood of our saviour, which purifies us from all sin, is a huge matter. The Old and New Testament elaborates this blood of Christ in great detail and thus prickles us to more meditation to contemplate its true meaning and effectiveness. Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, reminds the epistle to the Hebrews. What a significance and importance of this holy and most precious blood!

Should I go that way to explain why this blood is so important? Should I put together the opinions and impressions of others and finally even say more than I know?

The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses the world and nourishes the Church. That’s what I read in the book of books – without any explanation attached. Everything that can be said, doesn’t completely satisfy. In the end it will all be a bit more profound than what we can perceive or comprehend. We’ll probably only know it all when we reach the eternal destination, where the Lord will be all in all. In the meantime let us worship the blood of the lamb and believe all the magnificent powers and properties ascribed to it by the Word of God. Whoever drinks out of the celestial cups filled with divine blood tomorrow or on Maundy Thursday, praise the Lord for granting us such precious treasures to forgive our sins and to grant us life and eternal salvation. Let us admire, worship and praise his grace and mercy with which he blesses and keeps us in the true faith as we experience and taste, how friendly and gracious our Lord is to us.

Its a blessed fountain from which holy blood flows for sinners poor, pouring out gracious miracles and wonders – healing all hurt and harm.

It flows for me this precious blood. That’s my faith and hope. It heals my hurt, as Christ died for me too.

The robber on the cross found this healing font in Jesus’ grace and thus healed he entered into paradise.

O Lamb of God, your precious blood still has this saving power. Pour it out and create new people and your living Church.

I too was amongst the sinners dead, yet Jesus blood washed me clean. Therefore I rejoice and praise his holy blood.

This holy blood shed for me that’s my faith and hope. It heals my hurt, as Christ died for me too +  (Ernst Gebhard 1832-1899)

This is a translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after Judica (5th Sunday in Lent). The hymn is translated more literally than poetically. Both are found on Pg. 151 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.