MANY CHRISTIANS CLAIM that Satan hates the blood of Jesus (and he does), and therefore will not come near any Christian who pleads the blood of Jesus over themselves. Besides pleading the blood for our protection against the devil, it is stretched as far as pleading it over land, houses, property, finances, over other people (family, friends and to include the unregenerate), over health, even down to household pets! We can ‘plead the blood of Jesus’ as often as invoking the name of Jesus until we’re blue in the face, it may have effect – even a supernatural disturbance, but not in the way that demonstrates the wholeness and purity of the Holy Spirit. Acts 19:11-16 is a startling warning and reminder to knowing what and Who we are calling upon, especially when it comes to unseen forces that far outwit us beyond any human intelligence: “And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook [without knowledge] to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirits answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I recognise, but who are you?’ And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” We can bark out as many orders to the arch-enemy but it will not make the slightest difference. Satan does not pay attention to words, enthusiasm or theological terminology – he knows it better than we do – but put a man or woman who knows the God of theology, and moves heaven through prayer, that person is put on the ‘hit-list’ – that Christian is known by the legions of hell. Many use the clichéd slogan of ‘pleading the blood of Christ’ as a magic wand or a supernatural repellent against bad fortune and demonic activity; it’s as ridiculous as warding off dark spiritual entities with the symbol of the cross notoriously used in horror film classics.

Did the children of Israel use the blood of sacrificed animals for anything other than to atone for sins (apart from other occasions: inauguration of a covenant between God and man; the consecration of both the tent and vessels used in worship [not for personal property or possessions – but for God alone]- Hebrews 9:18; the blood of the lamb applied to the lintel and doorposts for the Lord to pass over the house, not destroying those within – Exodus 12:21-23; peace offerings – Leviticus 3; the consecration of priests – Leviticus 8; cleansing the leper declared clean, and using the blood of a bird to cleanse a once leprous house – Leviticus 14)? Was it ever used as a key to unlock the victories of war, to conquer enemy territory, and to promote good health and wealth?

Moreover, nowhere in the New Testament is Christ’s blood ever mentioned to ‘cover’ and ‘protect’ any object. When it comes to the blood of Christ we are dealing with something beyond profundity; it defies human logic. It is blasphemous to view Christ’s atoning blood for anything other than His redeeming sacrifice. Christ’s blood is made efficacious in our lives for the purpose of taking away our sins, bringing peace and reconciliation with and making us alive unto God. The ‘blood of Christ’ signifies His life that was sacrificed – poured out unto death – in our stead; His blood ransomed our souls. ‘There is power in the blood’ we have heard sung over the years – Power for what? Redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins – Ephesians 1:7 and to also: “purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14).

Many fall back on Revelation 12:11 to back up their doctrine of ‘pleading the blood of Jesus’ for weaponry use to ‘crush Satan under their feet’: “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” but actually read in context (verse 10), it shows that they overcame the devil’s accusations by trusting wholly in Christ’s propitiatory sacrifice – the very foundation of our salvation – not by their own works or merits, but rather merited (clothed) with Christ’s righteousness that they testify unto – ‘the word of their testimony’; what else on earth can answer to the devil’s accusations, if there is another explanation and exposition – then what is it?! Many of us would be wise to soberly take into account Jude from verse 9 where even Michael the archangel, contending with the devil, did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” You notice that in verse 11 Jude states, “But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand…” and yet we see this utter foolishness by so much stupidity among Christians who think they can ‘pick a fight’ or take on a legion of hell! It is sheer ignorance and so spiritually senseless. God is omnipotent, but the devil is not as weak as we foolishly think. I would highly recommend Arthur Neil’s two volume book set, ‘Aid Us In Our Strife’ which, next to William Gurnall’s ‘Christian In Complete Armour’, is the most balanced and authoritative teaching on spiritual warfare.

Does Paul in Ephesians 6, when exhorting believers to be strong in the Lord, ask us to ‘plead the blood of Jesus’? Does the Apostle John in his 1^st epistle state that we have to ‘plead the blood of Jesus’ to overcome the world and the spirit of the antichrist, when God Who is in us is stronger than he that is the world? Does James in chapter 5 state that the elders of the church are to ‘plead the blood of Jesus’ when they are to pray over the sick, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord? Did Paul ‘Plead the blood of Christ’ to counter his thorn in the flesh? Did any of the early disciples ‘plead the blood of Jesus’ over their homes against persecution when Paul stated emphatically that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12)?

What does the New Testament teach in regards to the efficacy of Christ’s blood?

“…[we] are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:24-25)

“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 5:9)

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)

“Making peace by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20).

“He [Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12)

“For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9: 13-14)

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.”  Hebrews 10:19

“So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood” Hebrews 13:12.

“Now may the God of peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant…” (Hebrews 13:20)

“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1: 18-19)

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

“…by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every nation and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God…” (Revelation 5:9-10).

Are we to ‘plead the blood of Jesus’ then in the light of Scripture? Are we viewing it right as God intends us to understand it that brings glory to His name?

There is as much warrant in Scripture for ‘pleading the blood of Jesus’ as much as there is the present scientific technology to travel back in time and become an eye witness to Christ’s death.

Does all this take away from the ‘magic’ so many wrongly ascribe to the blood of Christ; does it take away the wonder, excitement and ‘security’ we relished in? If it does, then we have understood nothing whatsoever of the biblical magnitude and significance of the precious blood of Christ and all that it gloriously entails: reconciliation with God, peace with God, brought near to Him, complete forgiveness, freed us from sin’s captivity, no condemnation, adopted as sons and daughters of God, made co-heirs with Christ – heirs of God, loved by God, cleansed from all unrighteousness to conform to the image of His Son – His cleansing blood that has enabled us to know Him, love Him, worship Him, and to serve Him eternally.

If there is anything to be afraid of and fear then that is to be in a position outside of Christ, awaiting the coming eternal judgment and wrath of God – “…do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him [God] Who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). But for those who are in Christ are eternally inseparable from the love of God.

There is nothing that can compare to this wonder, a wonder that will cause us all – in glory – to fall in perfect worship, awe and adoration. There we will have ‘a thousand tongues’ to sing our Great Redeemer’s praise because of the Greatest News of being brought near unto God, freely by His grace, through the blood of Christ. Glory and honour be unto Him forever more!