III. My Blood

"And He took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood." "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ?" -- Matthew 26:27, 28; 1 Corinthians 10:16.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life (Leviticus 27:11). For the blood is the life, the living spirit; and therefore atonement is linked with the shedding of blood. It was the surrender of the life of an innocent animal in the place of guilty man. And thus with the shedding of Jesus blood, His life is surrendered for our sins. The worth and the power of that blood are the worth and the power of the life of Jesus.Every drop of that blood has in it the power of an endless life.

Jesus gives me His blood. When I become partaker of that blood, I have part in the atonement which it established, the forgiveness which it secured. I have part in all that wonderful suffering in which it was shed. I have part in all the love of which that suffering and that bloodshedding were the revelation. I have part in that life which is in the blood and is in it first surrendered and then taken up again. I have part in the life of Jesus, surrendered upon the Cross, raised from the grave and now glorified in heaven. O glorious wonders of grace which lie hid in that word: Drink, for this is My blood.

The blood of Jesus is my drink of life. Jesus love is the power of my life. The spirit of Jesus life is the spirit of my life. O my God, help me to conceive these wonders. How powerful, how heavenly must that life be which is nourished by the New Wine of the kingdom and has communion with the blood of Gods Son, not only by cleansing, but also by drinking.

Blessed Jesus, who hast loved me so wonderfully, Thou wilt not deny me the request which I now state to Thee: unfold to me the secret of Thy life in me which Thou bestowest upon me, when from above Thou still givest me to drink the blood shed for the forgiveness of my sins. Most precious Saviour, illumine and enlarge my faith, that I may now realize this truth: Jesus own life is in my innermost being, the life of my life. He through His own blood entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption with the Father. Through Thine own blood come Thou to my heart to bring in this redemption there also. Lord Jesus, my heart thirsts for Thee. Come this day to me with that precious blood and let the full power of it be unveiled to me by Thyself. Let it quench my thirst. Let it cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Let it bring me into harmony with the joy and praise of those who sing: Unto Him that loveth us and loosed us from our sins by His blood, to Him be the glory and the dominion forever. Amen.