If I asked you the question, “When was the first time Jesus shed His blood for me?” you would no doubt reply thusly:  While nailed to the Cross.  My response to you would be, yes, but that was the second time.  When was the first?

……NO, NO, NO!  DON’T ASK GOOGLE…GRAB YOUR BIBLE!

Before we expound on that, let me ask you another question; “Where in the Bible do you find the Lord’s Prayer?”  The correct response, of course, is John 17.  And it is in this chapter where our Lord Jesus Christ is praying to His Father that we will find the key to my first query.

John 17:17 reads: “Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.”  Webster says, to sanctify means keep from sin.  The Bible says we are kept from sin by the blood of Jesus (John 1:7).  So, when Jesus prays to the Father to ‘Sanctify them‘, Jesus is saying, ‘shed My blood for (fill in your name)’!  The latter part of John 17:17 also identifies Jesus for it says, ‘…by Your truth.’  “Your” refers to God and God’s truth is that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 2:22).

Consequently, a literal interpretation of John 17:17 could read thusly; Jesus says to His Father, ‘shed My blood for the people because I am your Son’.

Jesus is further identified in the latter part of the verse where it is written, ‘Your word is truth.’  The ‘word‘ was made flesh (Jesus) and dwelled among us.  Scripture records that after Jesus prays this prayer mentioned in John 17, He prays again (Matt 26:39), this time in a more humanly and vigorous fashion.  He asked the Father ‘…if it is Your will, remove this cup from Me’.

At that moment, God reminds Jesus of His Divinity and causes Jesus’ sweat to turn to blood drops (Luke 22:44).  This was the first time Jesus shed blood for the remission of sin.  God alone produced/purchased my salvation at this first shedding of blood.  It was not the centurion’s spear that pierced Him in the side. (John 19:34)

…..GOD DID NOT NEED MAN TO HELP HIM CARRY OUT HIS PLAN OF SALVATION.

Therefore, the ‘cross’ incident was the second time Jesus shed blood and water for mankind for the remission of sin.  (Trust the Holy Spirit…sit under His tutelage…you’ll learn something!)

Scripture Reference:  Proverbs 4:1, 2

“Listen my sons [and daughters], to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.  I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.” AMEN.

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