On Dec. 12, 1937, the US Naval gunboat Panay was attacked by Japanese bombers on the Yangtze River in China. Just weeks earlier, the Japanese had seized control of Nanjing, the capital of Nationalist China. Although officially neutral in the conflict, the United States decided to evacuate American personnel from the city.
The USS Panay was tasked with transporting four US embassy staff, ten civilians, as well as 54 enlisted men, and five officers down the Yangtze River to safety. The Japanese claimed to have received reports that the Chinese vessels were transporting soldiers in the area, and though the Panay was clearly marked with three prominent American flags, Japanese planes unleashed a barrage of bombs and machine gun fire on the unsuspecting vessel.
Almost immediately, the Japanese bombers crippled the ship and seriously wounded the commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. James J. Hughes. The ship性视界传媒檚 executive officer, Lt. Arthur 性视界传媒淭ex性视界传媒 Anders, assumed command. He ordered the ship性视界传媒檚 machine guns to return fire, but soon he too was injured in the throat. Unable to speak, he continued to issue orders by writing them down, often scribbling the orders on the wall in his own blood.
As the ship began to sink, Lt. Anders性视界传媒 bloody finger scribbled the words: 性视界传媒淎bandon ship.性视界传媒 He then led the crew and survivors aboard lifeboats and to safety on the shore where they hid for three days until being rescued.
Lt. Arthur 性视界传媒淭ex性视界传媒 Anders was later awarded a Purple Heart and the Navy Cross for his heroism and for literally bleeding his troops to safety.
We could say the same about Jesus.
The Bible says clearly that sin deserves and demands blood. The bloody sacrifices of the Old Testament were a constant reminder to God性视界传媒檚 people that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Death is what we deserve for all the dumb and dirty things we do.
But Jesus rescued us from death by shedding his blood in our place. Just like the altars of the Old Testament sacrifices, the altar of the cross was a bloody place. Blood poured out of Jesus back, which had been shredded by the soldiers性视界传媒 scourge. Blood rolled down his face from the thorns perforating his skull. Blood dripped from the spikes nailed into his hands and feet.
But Jesus didn性视界传媒檛 just bleed for us. He didn性视界传媒檛 just suffer painful injuries. He made the ultimate sacrifice. He died for us. He suffered our death 性视界传媒 our hell 性视界传媒 in our place, so we could live.
Just like the blood of the lamb painted on the doorposts of their homes rescued the Israelites from death and slavery in Egypt, so Jesus性视界传媒 blood painted on the posts of the cross has freed us from death and our slavery to sin.
Right now, Jesus is leading us and all who believe in him to the safety of the other shore. You have been rescued. You are safe. You are going to heaven through faith in him.
Jesus has literally bled you to safety.
