Saturday, March 13
The Mark Of The Blood
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the Blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
I bear the Blood-mark of Jesus Christ with both pride and humility.
I can explain one of the most thrilling, often overlooked truths about the Blood of Jesus. It marks those who trust in Jesus Christ, and distinguishes them from everybody else. The first mark is internal, the sign of inner cleansing. When a sinner calls on the Name of the Lord to be saved, and takes Jesus Christ personally as his Savior, the Blood of Jesus does a deep and thorough work. We are clean in soul and mind, conscious, subconscious or unconscious. Every evil image is thrown down. No more nightmares about Hell and judgment, but divine visions and dreams. It is wonderful to dream about Jesus! Our past has gone and God remembers it no more. There is no need to keep digging it up and asking again for forgiveness. God never recalls it. This, however, does not mean that we are already "spiritually perfected Christians." As we feed on the Word of God, we will be led by the Holy Spirit from dimension to dimension.
The next mark is external. I can explain it through the Bible - it was foreshadowed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. In the Old Testament we read:
"Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot."
This is the New Testament fulfillment: after Jesus has cleansed us inwardly from all our sins by His Blood, an outward mark is impressed upon us. Just as there was one drop of blood upon the right ear, on the thumb and on the big toe, so the born-again believer is blood-marked. Of course, this is not a sign on our physical body, but one which both heaven and hell can discern. When God's people walk through the streets, the demons can spot them. I imagine one evil spirit calling to another, "Can you see over there? That one has the Blood-mark of Jesus on his ear, toe and thumb. He belongs to Jesus Christ! Don't try to touch him - it's too dangerous. Dare to touch him ... you will have a legion of angels to contend with!" You are marked by the Blood of Jesus Christ!