Miaowkat's Blog

This article is about the phrase we use “plead the blood of Jesus”, and how we can understand what the Bible really says.

Being Biblical before being Pentecostal

As far as I know and have read, pleading the blood is something Pentecostals say and do as part of prayer and faith talk. I admit being brought up in this culture, I myself have ignorantly used this lingo in my prayer. I never questioned it, till now.

My church has recently provided us a series of lessons to teach regarding the “power of the blood”, and I was assigned the lesson looking into Old Testament usage of the blood. I also have to admit that my initial preparation also drew on some of my preconceived ideas about the blood, like how I automatically related the story of the Passover with an application of how to “apply the blood”.

The heart and intention behind this practice is usually well-meaning and innocent. We want goodness and success over all areas of our lives, victory for people around us. However my questioning mind caught the better of me and I began to read and search carefully about this.

Nowhere (direct or indirectly) does the Bible state that we “plead the blood” over this life or over that work. Jesus’ work of sacrifice and shedding of blood is already applied and already completed. We don’t have to plead it anymore.

Who “applies” the blood?

We also don’t “apply” the blood on ourselves. Applying the blood was the role of a high priest.

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he 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. 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 9:11-14 ESV

This passage refers to an Old Testament practice; instances of atonement and sacrifice, the blood was applied by a high priest on behalf of the people.

When Jesus died for us, he presented Himself in the form of two roles: as High Priest and as Sacrifice itself. Jesus is our high priest. He Himself applied His own blood on our behalf.

Ok, so what about God’s protection?

There is nothing wrong with seeking God’s protection and covering over various situations because the Bible says “call unto me and I will answer” (Jeremiah 33:3); that God is “our refuge and fortress” (Psalm 91:2); and Jesus has given us authority and power over the enemy (Luke 10:19). However we must remember that we should always ask God according to His word, and pleading the blood is not in the Bible. It is not a “magic word” that will make God protect us, and don’t try it as a technique to protect you from the coronavirus.

Nevertheless I think there is no wrong in using such a phrase especially for someone who is sincerely praying so intensely and desperately for a situation that needs God’s protection. As Christians, we say a lot of “gospel-ised” phraseology in a loose way because we have been taught it, like “it’s a prophecy!” when someone says something “of the future”; “you will have it because you asked it”. I am a firm believer that language sometimes doesn’t capture the essence of what our prayer wants to express and our cry to God, but the crucial point is: God knows!

“… for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8

“For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” Romans 8:26

What the Spirit of God tells us about Jesus’ joy

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

I would like to include another reason why we know Jesus had joy, as an extension to my last post about Jesus’ joy. We might often read and miss this simple truth that Jesus said that the Holy Spirit bears witness about Himself.

“”But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”

John 15:26 ESV

Jesus introduces the primary source and role of the Holy Spirit in John 15:26. The Holy Spirit is from the Father, and the Holy Spirit bears witness, or an easier way to understand it, the Holy Spirit “promotes” Jesus!

And Galatians 5:22 says that the fruit of the Spirit is … joy! The result of having the Holy Spirit sown and planted in our hearts is joy! And since the Holy Spirit promotes Jesus, spiritual joy must be an inseparable nature of Jesus because spiritual joy comes from Jesus!

Prayer: Jesus, I thank you that I am birthed into a new life that you prepare for me. You are so good to me because I can be found in you and I can share in the precious joy that comes from the Spirit. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

I admit I am a party-pooper when it comes to overused Christian practices; overused to the point it either becomes out of context or people use them as a formula or means to not be responsible for the state of affairs they are in. And I write this as a result to hearing yesterday’s sermon on “The Overcomer’s Great Joy”.

I must also upfront say that I don’t have an issue with the content of the sermon. I think what was shared has scriptural basis. It covered adequate points on why and how to be joyful. It was a timely message for all of us, especially when we face imminent threats and defeat in this fallen world, whether globally in the form of contagious diseases, or closer to home from aspects like pressures of work and people around us.

What I have an issue with is, what Christians, after hearing a sermon like, will do. Which is to just use this as the formula to the answer for all our problems. It’s understandable that we become fired up after such a sermon, eager to “practice joy” in all our circumstances, missing the point of the sermon that joy is birthed out of  our salvation and not circumstances. Be joyous and all our problems will go away. Take care of our joy and the problems will take care of themselves.

However, I’m afraid to say that, trying to cough up joy from within, is something that the world knows how to do too! People of other faiths, Buddhists, Muslims, anyone who celebrates their culture’s New Year, anyone who attends a “the power is within you” motivation rally… (and the list goes on), will all tell you they can “choose” to be joyful, creating some form of joy within themselves, without the need for God.

And I have a problem with that, because then, there is no distinction between the joy we can generate from within and the true joy that comes from communion with Christ. And I think this kind of “internalised” joy is more deadly than the joy which the world offers. Mankind has created drugs and tools for you to generate your own euphoria too. The state of joy with which these drugs give are temporal, instead of a permanent joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. The “internalised” joy is more dangerous, I feel, because it stems from the pride of man, it is devoid of God, and it is a kind which creates a detachment from our problems but no in-filling afterward.

God did not give Christians joy as a license to be irresponsible or reckless with the hardships we face. We use this phrase often and it is good to be reminded where it comes from: “(And do not be grieved, for) the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. Parenthesis to indicate words which form the beginning of the sentence. Reading this verse in context, the people of God were told to not grieve because that day was declared to be a holy day.

The joy of the Lord is given to us in order to be our strength, necessary to face up against our trials. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” ~ James‬ ‭1:2-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬. It does not say our troubles will go away, it just tells us to count it as joy.

Now that we have covered this very long disclaimer and introduction, my main thoughts were really, if we think joy is important, how important was joy in Jesus’ life? Did Jesus practice joy?

I came across a blog which I will reference and give due credit to. It captured everything on my thoughts about the question “Did Jesus practice joy”? I couldn’t have wrote it better. More importantly it supports what I said earlier in my disclaimer. Here it is:

https://www.scottmorton.net/articles/2014/8/27/was-jesus-joyful

I will quote his prayer here because it was the most important part of his concise article, and I felt it blessed me too, and I hope it will bless you as well:

Prayer: “Jesus, like the disciples in the Upper Room, may I experience your joy day by day. I cannot manufacture joy on my own strength and I want more than fleeting happiness that depends on my circumstances. Fill me with your joy today even in the midst of daily sadness. Amen.” (By Scott Morten)

What we are facing globally with the coronavirus is very similar to the firstborn plague that hit Egypt and leprosy outbreaks that afflicted the Israelites.

They are similar in the way that they cause chaos and that no one can really get a full grasp of what is really happening and how to take control of he situation.

I write this to point out that there are also close similarities in terms of what the Bible details and explains as to what to do in times of “pestilence” or “plagues”.

This is also not an article to say that Christians will not be victims of outbreaks or to give you a formula to stay “unaffected”. This is just to point out that there are proactive steps we can take and do in order to live out the Word of God rightly.

1. Be distinct

“But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’” Exodus 11:7 ESV

This was what God told Moses prior to the plague that killed all of Egypt’s firstborn. He wanted to make a statement that there is a difference between His chosen people and the rest of the world.

This is an important principle in response to this and any disaster. God wants us to be holy, set apart, distinct from the world. Jesus said that we will also face trials and tribulations but we can have a peace that corresponds to a calmness of heart and mind because Jesus has overcome this world.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”” John 16:33 ESV

After all Jesus also already foretold that we will face such calamity and has told us that we ought not to be caught by surprise.

“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11 ESV

Again it is important to note that outbreaks today are not meant to distinguish between Christians and non-Christians.

2. The law of cleanliness is a Godly law

“But if the spot is white in the skin of his body and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days.” Leviticus 13:4 ESV

The Bible describes laws in detail regarding hygiene for the Israelites, particularly in Leviticus which describes priestly duties regarding sick people. Even quarantine was a basic concept made known then.

“He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.” Leviticus 13:46 ESV

You see, the basic, underlying rule in all these details is that, when you break God’s law of cleanliness, the result is death. This is true in the spiritual as well as in the physical realm. And this couldn’t be demonstrated better than what we’re seeing and hearing today. The basic principle of avoiding such infection is to keep your hands clean and practice prescribed hygiene. If you are sick, please quarantine yourself.

3. The power of the blood

Going back to the tenth plague of Egypt, a very sophisticated plague, that even today cannot be explained. Scholars and scientists have theorised on how the plagues may be connected to each other but are still unable to explain how a plague is possible that only affects the first born, even the first born of animals.

However what is more amazing is how the resemblance and act of applying the blood on the doorpost would keep the Israelites safe.

“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:13 ESV

At this point it is very important not to jump into an application or general theory of how the blood works. Between then and now, Jesus has paid a final price for spiritual death such that we don’t have to sacrifice animals. Neither will pleading the blood of Jesus save or protect you from coronavirus.

What we must remember, which we often forget, is that the blood of Jesus not only cleanses us from sin, but it reconciles us with God. Jesus’ blood was the blood of a sacrifice.

“and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:20 ESV

And because we are reconciled with God, firstly we have the confidence that grace, peace and comfort will follow us, no matter what happens to us. And this is important for the next point because when we understand that we are clean and worthy, we can come to God and ask for His wisdom.

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.” Psalms 24:3-4 ESV

4. Seek the one whom all wisdom flows

When an epidemic broke out thousands of years ago, imagine the chaos and uncertainty that ensued. With the lack of modern medical facilities, the misinformation and fear would be tremendous. In the midst of all that trouble and the unknown, God gave the Israelites laws and principles on how to keep clean and safe. With an impending plague, God gave Moses instructions on how to stay alive.

Likewise, today, it would be wisest action to seek the one from whom all wisdom is birthed. Whether it is to paint our doorpost, or dip 7 times in a river, or to build an ark, God gives the wisdom and details as to how to be saved. Sometimes it may be to the leaders of our lands. Sometimes it may be to one key person.

Let us remind ourselves, that there IS power in the blood, but God holds the wisdom and answers to our troubled times. How His power and protection work together to form the solutions for us to live calmly in times of calamity is a mystery to all, but He is God, and He knows. And that’s why we can confidently say “My help comes from the Lord!”

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalms 121:1-2 ESV

UPDATE: heard this phrase the next morning at Sunday service, which sums it up pretty well: “The vaccines for yesterday (SARS) is not effective to fight the battles of today (Coronavirus). We must always turn to God (the Greatest Physician)” ~ Ps Richard Yun.