Years ago I talked with God about the cross, and I asked Him why Jesus had to suffer so much. The Father showed me something very precious. I believe Jesus actually bled to death during His crucifixion.

All those hours on the cross, His precious blood flowed from those fresh wounds until He was about to pass out from the loss of blood. At that moment, the Father took the sins of the world and placed them upon that broken, emaciated body, and Jesus became sin who knew no sin. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).

Jesus had been bleeding profusely for six hours. His blood had already been poured out before the sins of the world were placed upon Him. That holy blood was never contaminated by the sins of the world. His blood remains holy, untouched by your sins and mine. It is as pure and holy as ever, full of mercy and life. It was His body that was broken and contaminated.

That is why the Book of Hebrews says the blood of Jesus cries better things than the blood of Abel (12:24). The blood of Abel was crying out for revenge: “God, do something. My brother has murdered me.”

But what does the blood of Jesus cry? “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. For these guilty people, Lord, I will provide the way to mercy. I will take their place. Let mercy be given them.”