Rivers are mighty bodies of water. They flow swiftly, powerfully, and thoroughly on their given courses. They are major assets in areas of commerce, recreation, and transportation. Yes, we stand in awe of these amazing natural resources. But picture in your mind, if you can, a river whose flow travels in both directions. Could you imagine seeing such a wonder? It truly would be a sight to behold; one that people from all around the world would travel at great expense to witness and experience. They would take pictures. They would buy souvenirs. They would relish the opportunity to tell everyone they know about what they have seen. However, as for the one river that truly does flow two ways, few would even walk across the road to hear about it.
A common illustration that exists in Scripture is the picture of Jesus’ blood as a river that, when contacted, washes away the world’s sins. To the Samaritan woman (John 4), Jesus offered living water (vs. 10). This living water is that which John was shown: “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1). This river supplies the fountain of the water of life, from which we can drink freely if we thirst (Revelation 21:6). These verses use that illustrative language to help us picture the power and purpose of Jesus’ blood as our source for the soul’s salvation. But something the Hebrews’ writer says about that blood really stands out when applied with this metaphor.
“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood” (Hebrews 9:15-18).
Did you catch that? If Jesus blood is pictured as a river of life, this passage points out the fact that it is, in fact, a river that really does flow two ways. It is a river that flows forward, as expected, to cover the sins of all penitent and obedient people who have lived, are living, and will live since its initiation at the cross. This fulfills the covenant promise God has made to His faithful children through Jesus (Mark 16:16). But the Hebrews’ writer went even further and pointed out that by means of Jesus’ death (i.e., His blood), the transgressions of those who were under the “first testament” are redeemed as well. This means that all of those souls who lived in obedience to God’s law who lived and died prior to Christ have been redeemed as well. Therefore, those great men and women of faith, such as are mentioned in Hebrews 11, as well as others, have also been saved. No the blood of bulls and goats did not take away their sins (Hebrews 10:4), but their submission to God’s commands to offer those bulls and goats signified their love for God and His word, and so when Christ shed His blood, it was shed for those who would come, but also for those who had come. It truly was an offering made once “for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
Are you interested in learning more about the river that flows two ways? Seek to learn more about Jesus and His sacrificial love for you, because He is that river!