Believing in the Power of the Blood of Jesus

For some kids and even adults talking about blood is a yucky subject. But blood is a very important subject to God. In fact, as Christians, we sing songs about it, praising the power it has to save, protect, and change us. Of course it is the blood of Jesus that was shed for us on the cross that has the power to “wash us white as snow.”

Why is blood so important to God?

“More than anything else in the body, blood is essential to life. It’s what carries the fuel and oxygen to the billions of cells in our bodies. Blood supplies the brain and the heart with the necessary nourishment to function. It also carries carbon dioxide and other waste materials to the digestive system, where they are then removed from the body. Without blood we couldn’t keep warm or cool, fight infections, or get rid of our own waste products. Additionally, our very identity—our DNA—is located in our blood.” Kyle Winkler

Leviticus 17:11 says, “The life of every living thing is in the blood, and that is why the Lord has commanded that all blood be poured out on the altar to take away the people's sins. Blood, which is life, takes away sins."

Hebrews 9:22 says, “In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”

God first demonstrated the power of innocent blood, shed for the sake of others, when He instructed the Hebrews to take the blood a lamb without any defects and put it on the doorposts and above the doors of the houses in which they lived. The Israelites were about to be set free from slavery to the Egyptians, and God was going to use blood to save them.

He told them, “The blood on the doorposts will be a sign to mark the houses in which you live. When I see the blood, I will pass over you and will not harm you when I punish the Egyptians.” (Exodus 12:13)

Through this act of deliverance from slavery, the Israelites became a people belonging to God, and God’s covenant with them was reaffirmed.

When Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples, He called attention to a cup of wine, which He was about to share with them. He told them that the cup represented the new covenant between God and His people and that it would begin with His blood, which would be poured out as a sacrifice for them.

Matthew 26:27-28 says, '“Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. “Drink it, all of you,” he said; “This is my blood, which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."'

Hebrews 9:12 says, “When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us."

Here’s what I shared with the kids:

Part 1

First we talked a lot about how important blood is and why it is important to God. We read each of the following Scriptures and interpreted them into movement. The result was a complete dance we called THE POWER of the BLOOD of JESUS.

To God, blood means forgiveness.

Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Because of Christ’s shed blood, God is able to forgive us for our sins and give the punishment that we deserved to Christ.

To God, blood means togetherness.

Ephesians 2:13 says, ”Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart...”

Colossians 1:20 says, “Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.”

Hebrews 10:19 says, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus..."

To God, blood means cleansing.

Hebrews 13:12 says, “Jesus also suffered…in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.”

To God, blood means victory over evil.

Revelation 12:11 says, “And they have conquered him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

To God, blood means new life in Christ.

John 6:56 says, For my flesh is the real food; my blood is the real drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them.”

To God, blood means eternal life.

John 6:54 says, “Jesus said to them, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them to life on the last day.

To God, blood means holiness.

Hebrews 13:12 says, “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.”