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    A father and his young son were viewing a parade in London, England. Because of the chilling wind, they stepped inside a small store and watched through the window. In the course of time, a regiment of British troops marched by. The man exclaimed, “My, aren’t those Redcoats pretty!” But the little boy replied, “They aren’t red, they are white. If you don’t believe me, just squat down here and look.” Just to prove the little fellow was wrong, his Daddy got down on his knees and looked out the window. To his amazement the coats were not red; they looked white.

    What had happened was this: There was a red band of glass around the storefront window, and the boy’s height gave him a view of the parade through the red band of glass. When you look at a red object through a red piece of glass, the red object loses it red color to your eyes. It appears white.

God looks at you through the red blood of Jesus...

    The same thing is true in salvation. When God looks at you through the red blood of Jesus your scarlet sins appear white. This is blood atonement. Some find this image reprehensible and gross. But when we understand the significance of our sin and appreciate the principle of sacrifice that runs through the Old Testament (read the book of Hebrews!), we know the truth. Yes, it is a wonderful and reprehensible image.

    You see, the apostle Peter described the atonement of Christ in this manner:

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV)