XXVIII About the two other things to be noted with regard to the preciousness of the Blood of Jesus
XXVIII
About the two other things to be noted with regard to the preciousness of the Blood of Jesus
A. (3) The third point to be chiefly noted about the preciousness of this Blood, as poured forth on the Cross, is the greatness of its might; and this is seen in three things: 1, in the destruction of the devil; 2, in the redemption of the world; 3, in reconciliation with God.
1. What Job says of Leviathan may be interpreted thus: Leviathan is the devil, and the hook in his food, with which he is drawn up, is the Son of God, hidden in His assumed human nature. With that hook the devil was caught and deceived: for in daring to gnaw to death the Flesh of the sinless Lamb on the Cross, and to pour forth its Blood unjustly, the hidden hook of the Godhead pierced his power and destroyed it. Next, the destruction of the great dragon in Babylon, with pitch and fat and hair by Daniel, is interpreted thus: The pitch and the hair signify the likeness of sinful flesh; and the fat signifies the Blood of Jesus. The lump into which they were made up signifies the holy limbs of Jesus put into the power of the enemy. While he unjustly seeks to devour these things, his power is justly destroyed.
2. It is by the Blood of Jesus that we are redeemed, and therefore the Church sings in the Te Deum: ‘We pray Thee, therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy Precious Blood.’
N. Of both these together St. Augustin says, ‘What did the Redeemer do to our enslaver? He made His Cross a trap for him, and put there as bait His Body and Blood. Then, because the Evil One poured forth the Blood of one who was not a debtor, he was commanded to give back the debtors to freedom. Hence the Church sings, “O glorious Cross, on which the devil was crushed, and on which the world was redeemed by the Blood of Christ.” ’
3. It is Jesus who has made peace between God and man. He is the Head of the Church, and made this peace by the Blood of His Cross. Hence after His Passion and Resurrection He showed to His disciples His pierced hands and sides, and gave them His peace. Now this peace, that is, this reconciliation with God, is brought about by the Blood of Jesus in a threefold way: a, because of the sufficient price which by it He paid for our debts; b, because of the most burning love which He showed by this deed; c, because of the beauty by which it made us pleasing to God.
a. He paid what He did not take away, that is, He paid for our peace and our ransom the price of His Blood.
b. Jesus, because of His great love for us, gave Himself on the Cross to reconcile us to God. For this He offered His own Blood and gave His life.
c. From being culprits we are made just, and from being foul we are made fair, by Jesus, our Redeemer. When He poured water into the basin and began to wash the feet of His disciples, He showed us how He washes our souls with His Blood, making us fair in His eyes and dear to God. It is, indeed, true: God has washed sinners in His own Blood; has made them pleasing to Himself; and has so reconciled them to Himself that He has set them as princes in His own kingdom.
(4) The fourth thing to be noted about our Lord’s Blood is the countless gathering of the Redeemed. Three great armies have been redeemed by that Blood: 1, His open enemies; 2, the ancient just; 3, His doubtful friends. The first are saved from the fetters of sin; the second from Limbus; the third from doubtfulness of faith. Because of this He poured forth His Blood from three places: 1, from His hands; 2, from His feet; 3, from the wound in His side.
1. He shed the Blood from His hands for two reasons: a, to loose sinners from the chains of sin by the might of that Blood; b, having forgiven them, to bring them back to Himself.
a. St. Augustin says, ‘Christ shed His Blood to take away our sins. For that by which the devil held us fast was taken away by the Blood of the Redeemer. Now, we were held fast by nothing but by the chain of our sins.’
b. He brings them back forgiven. Jesus stretched forth His hands on the Cross, and held them out dripping with Blood. Thus He broke off the fetters of the wicked; and still with a bleeding hand He draws back the sinner who is flying from Him.
2. He shed His Blood from His feet to show that He would, a, save the ancient just from Limbus; b, bring them safely to the heavenly country.
a. The tree and the crookedness of the tree signify the Passion of Jesus on the wood of the Cross. There He truly treads in the wine-press, pouring forth with His feet the blood of the grape, and thus He makes many glad. Jesus, therefore, trod the wine-press for the virgin of Juda, when He shed His Blood in anguish on the Cross, and gladdened the just, who had an incorruptible faith, by bringing them from Limbus. The water that they did not have there is the heavenly bliss.
b. Bringing them from Limbus, He takes them to Heaven. He did not enter Heaven alone, but had with Him a great army of the just, a victorious host whom He had brought from the grave. By the strength of His arm He had saved them.
3. He poured His Blood from the wound in His side and Heart for life and warmth. He has disciples doubtful in the faith, and many others greatly tempted as to faith and morals, that is, as to the things they must believe and the things they must do. These are cold and as it were dead. But He does two things: a, He warms them and gives them life; b, when they live again by His Blood He shows them the heavenward road, that they may run swiftly after Him.
a. For this reason His side was opened, in which is the life of man, that He may warm the cold in faith and quicken to a holy life those that are as good as dead. So He was made like a pelican in the desert. Now, it is said of the pelican that she feeds her young ones with her blood. Jesus, with the Blood of His Heart, helps the cold in faith and the dead in sins.
b. To those who live again by His wound He shows the road to Heaven, and teaches them that they must follow it. He calls to the soul to look at Him wounded for it, to see His Blood, and to follow Him. He showed His wounds to His disciples after His resurrection, not only that He might strengthen them in faith, but also that He might teach them about the sufferings through which they must go. Fly, therefore, from delights of the flesh, and follow Jesus in His Passion. Ask Him to go before you, that by His wounded Heart and Blood-sprinkled footsteps He may show you the road in which the wayfarers cannot err, and give you strength to walk in it till you know Him as you are known, and drink in the pleasures at His right hand for evermore.
The Voice of the Holy Ghost
(3) About the might of the Blood of Jesus; He hath loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood, and hath made us a kingdom and priests to God and His Father: to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Apoc. 1:5, 6.
1. The destruction of the devil; Canst Thou draw out the Leviathan with a hook, or canst Thou tie his tongue with a cord?.… Lay Thy hand upon him; remember the battle, and speak no more. Job 40:20, 27.
Daniel said, I adore the Lord my God, for He is the living God; but that (the dragon) is no living god. But give me leave, O king, and I will kill this dragon without sword or club. And the king said, I give thee leave. Then Daniel took pitch and fat and hair and boiled them together, and put them in the dragon’s mouth; and the dragon burst asunder. And he said, Behold him whom ye worshipped. Dan. 14:24–26.
2. The redemption of the world; You are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body. 1 Cor. 6:20.
In Him we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. Eph. 1:7.
You were not redeemed by corruptible things like gold or silver … but with the Precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled. 1 St. Pet. 1:18, 19.
N. Both together; It behoved Him in all things to be made like His brethren, that He might become a merciful and faithful High-Priest before God, that He might be a propitiation for the sins of the people. Heb. 2:17.
3. Reconciliation with God; Now in Christ Jesus, you who sometime were afar off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ, for He is our peace. Eph. 2:13, 14.
He is the Head of the Church, … making peace by the Blood of His Cross, both as to the things on earth and the things that are in Heaven. Col. 1:18, 20.
a. The sufficient price; They are multiplied above the hairs of My head who hate Me without cause.… Then did I pay that which I took not away. Ps. 68:5.
This is My Blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto the remission of sins. St. Matt. 26:28.
b. His most gracious love; Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness. Eph. 5:2.
Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation. Ecclus. 44:17.
c. The beauty of grace; God commended His love towards us, in that when we were sinners, according to the time, Christ died for us; much more therefore, being justified by His Blood, shall we be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but also we glory in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received reconciliation. Rom. 5:8–11.
To all that are at Rome, the beloved of God called to be Saints, grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 1:7.
Jesus knowing that His hour was come, that He should pass out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.… Knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came from God, and goeth to God, He riseth from supper, and layeth aside His garments, and having taken a towel, girded Himself. After that He putteth water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. St. John 13:1–5.
Grace be unto you and peace … from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth; who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood, and hath made us a kingdom and priests to God and His Father. Apoc. 1:4–6.
(4) The Redeemed; 1. Open enemies: His hands; a. Forgiveness; He stretched out His hand to make a libation, and offered of the blood of the grape. He poured out at the foot of the Altar a divine odour to the most high prince. Ecclus. 1:16, 17.
b. Sinners brought back; I have blotted out thy iniquities as a cloud, and thy sins as a mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed thee. Is. 44:22.
2. The ancient Just: His feet; a. Brought from Limbus; The Lord hath taken away all my mighty men out of the midst of me; … the Lord hath trodden the wine-press for the virgin daughter of Juda. Lam. 1:15.
Thou also by the Blood of Thy testament hast sent forth Thy prisoners out of the pit, where is no water: return to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope. Zach. 9:11, 12.
b. Taken to Heaven; He entered once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption. Heb. 9:12.
Thou hast ascended on high, and hast led captivity captive, and hast received gifts in men. Ps. 67:19.
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra: this beautiful One in His robe, walking in the greatness of His strength? Is. 63:1.
3. Doubtful friends: The wound in His side and Heart; a. He gives life to dead souls; One of the soldiers with a spear opened His side. St. John 19:34.
I am become like a pelican of the wilderness. Ps. 101:7.
The King of Israel stood in his chariot against the Syrians: and he died in the evening, and the blood ran out of the wound. 3 Kings 22:35.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils. Prov. 20:30.
Thy wound is grievous. Nah. 3:19.
Woe is me for my destruction: my wound is very grievous. Jer. 10:19.
I have wounded thee with a wound of an enemy. Jer. 30:14.
I will close up thy scar, and will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord. Jer. 30:17.
A certain Samaritan, being on his journey, came near him; and seeing him was moved with compassion; and going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine. St. Luke 10:33, 34.
b. He shows them the way to Heaven; Thou hast wounded My Heart, My sister, My spouse. Cantic. 4:9.
When He had said this He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. St. John 20:20.
Unto this you are called; for Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His steps. 1 St. Pet. 2:21.
Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people by His own Blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For we have not here a lasting city, but we seek one that is to come. Heb. 13:12–14.
Flee away, O My beloved, and be like to the roe and to the young hart upon the mountains of aromatical spices. Cantic. 8:14.
A path and a way shall be there, and it shall be called the holy way; the unclean shall not pass over it: and this shall be to you a straight way, so that fools shall not err therein. Is. 35:8.
We see now through a glass in a dark manner, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know even as I am known. 1 Cor. 13:12.
Prayer
My Jesus, Thy Soul was once sorrowful even unto death: now it is without sorrow, where sorrow cannot be. As Thy great prophet has told us, because it has laboured it is saturated with joy. To-day is for evermore the day of the gladness of Thy Heart. Thy Soul is the most beautiful soul that God has ever made; and it is the strongest soul. He has given Thee wisdom to judge Thy people. He has filled Thee with the fulness of grace. As the Godhead dwells bodily in Thee, giving Thy Soul the holiness of the hypostatic union, so, that Thou mayest be truly man, Thy Soul has a created holiness by the sanctification of the Holy Ghost. I adore the love with which Thy uncreated Spirit loves Thy created Soul. I adore the Holy Ghost dwelling in Thy Soul as His most chosen sanctuary. I adore the Father, and Thyself, the Word, and Thy Holy Spirit, loving Thy Soul, and making in it an abode of peace, which passeth not away. With one act of adoration I adore Thy Godhead, and the Soul which Thou didst assume to a personal union with Thyself. O most glorious Soul of my Saviour: O strongest Soul: O wisest Soul: O most loving Soul. In a few moments, my Jesus, Thy Soul will come to me in the Sacrament of Thy Body and Blood. O, bind me, tie me, fasten me to Thyself, that I may cling to Thee ceaselessly, and never be torn from Thee, nor tear myself from Thee again. O most Holy Soul of God, I draw near to the Table of Heaven in the splendour of Thy light.