Nothing But the Blood

by Greg Quinn

June 2nd, 2026

My brother Jeff loved to torment people. Even as a young child, Jeff was always playing pranks on people, especially his brothers. Especially me. He took great pride in making fun of people in a humorous way. It turned out to be one of his most endearing traits, as he had such a sense of humor that he could ridicule someone or play a prank on someone and make them laugh while it happened. Still annoying. Yet funny. That was just Jeff.

One time comes to mind when we were young, probably some 60 years ago. We were visiting our Uncle Burris and Aunt Chris which we very often did. Their kids Keith and Larry we really enjoyed as some of our favorite cousins. Keith and I especially had a strong bond, being just 6 months apart in age. We would visit them or they would visit us, but we spent a lot of time together. It was one of those times when we were at Aunt Chris' house that this event occurred. In fact, it is one of those things Aunt Chris and Keith and I still laugh about today.

Keith and I were down in the back part of their property. There was a ravine below a hill, some 20 feet drop or more I guess. There was a little spring there and the water could get a couple feet or more deep in the ravine especially after a large rain. Keith and I were down by the water looking for crawdads and special rocks. Jeff was up on the hill. We could not see him unless he came to the edge and looked down. So Jeff thought it was funny to come to the edge and throw some large rocks down into the water to splash Keith and I and then run back where we couldn't see him. He would do so and we would holler and tell him to stop and he would just laugh. We made our threats but he continued. 

Now Keith was one of the greatest rock-throwers who ever lived. He could hurl a rock at high velocity and even throw a rock around a curve (he once hit Boge with a rock around a 90-degree corner of our house - another story). If Keith could have handled a baseball like he could a rock he would have become famous.

Jeff wouldn't stop throwing big rocks at us from some 20 feet up the hill, down into the ravine, splashing us by the water. He would throw the rock and run back where we couldn't see him. So Keith picked up a rock and threw it at his unseen target with such velocity that Mickey Mantle would have been proud. He couldn't see Jeff, but after hurling the rock up the hill at the invisible target, we only heard a loud "Owwwww". We knew Keith had hit Jeff and hurt him.

So Keith and I ran up the hill and found Jeff standing some 30 feet back from the edge, holding his eye. Blood was pouring between his fingers and running down his face and arms. We immediately ran to him; Keith tore off his T-Shirt and handed it to Jeff. Jeff took it and held it over his eye and the white shirt soon turned red. Jeff was in pain and we were sure that Keith had put his eye out. Keith exclaimed, "Can you see!? Can you see!?". Jeff said solemnly, "I can't see nothing but an old bloody shirt".

Well, Aunt Chris and Mom came out of the house and took Jeff inside. As it turned out, Keith the Hurler didn't put out Jeff's eye. The rock had just missed his eye and tore a gash in his eyebrow; a scar he carried the rest of this life. And a humorous story that we still share today.

When God created the Heavens and the Earth as recorded in Genesis, God made everything perfect. He created light from darkness, he created the Earth and the planets and the Universe from nothingness. He created all the elements. He created atmosphere and all life. He created the land and the water, and the fish in the water, birds in the air, and animals on the earth. He created the trees and plants for fruit, and the flowers for beauty. When it was all completed, God said it was good. It was actually perfect; almost. Then on the sixth day of Creation, God created Man in his own image, his crowning accomplishment, his significant glory. He created Man to be like Himself. He created Man with intelligence, with a soul (mind, will, emotions) unlike any other animal. And he created Man as a Spirit-Being like Himself, in a physical body. When Man was created, Adam, God was finished and it was perfect. After a while, Adam needed a mate like the animals, so God took a rib from Adam and created Woman, Eve. They lived in a Garden Paradise. They could eat any fruit in the Garden except they could not eat from the tree named The Knowledge of Good and Evil; God said if they did so they would surely die. Adam and Eve were happy. Man and God were happy. They spent time together, the Creator and the Creation, every day. All was perfect.

Until Satan, the rejected angel cast down from Heaven for his rebellion against God, the great Deceiver, showed up. He appeared to Eve as a beautiful serpent and told Eve that God did not tell them the truth, that they could in fact eat of the Tree and they would not die. Instead, they would become like God. So Satan tempted Eve to take and eat of the fruit, she did, and so did Adam. Their eyes were opened, they knew they had rebelled against God, and they knew they were naked, and were ashamed. God told them that because of their sin, their rebellion against God, they would be cast from the Garden and life would become hard. Sin would increase with their children and children's children, and the plan of Satan in an attempt to overthrow God on the Earth was set into place. Even so, God's love for Man was so strong that He put in place a path of redemption. God shed blood by killing an animal and giving Adam and Eve the skins for clothing. And Jesus was being prepared to come to Earth so many generations later as the perfect sacrifice, the perfect atonement for the sin of all Mankind. Until that time, Man would try to come back to God from time to time, and God would insist on the blood offerings of animals to hold off the punishment of their sin. Blood sacrifice was required for sin.

Hebrews 9:22 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

After generations of animal sacrifices in an attempt of Man to atone for their sins, which was only a temporary solution, Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, came to Earth to permanently once and forever take the punishment for sin on behalf of all Mankind.

John 1:29 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Jesus, the spotless Lamb, the Son of Almighty God, died on a cruel cross for our sins. He paid the price that we could never pay. He made us righteous before a Holy God so that once again, as in the Garden, Man and God were friends. Jesus' blood on the cross paid the penalty, once and for all, for our sins. Jesus rose from death on the third day, claiming victory even over death. And in doing so, with His blood sacrifice and His victory, Jesus created a path back to God, for eternity. All we have to do is to believe in Him and what He did for us, accept Jesus' sacrifice for our sin, and follow Jesus as our Lord.

Robert Lowry in 1876 wrote a hymn that would be published in 633 hymnals and became a very popular hymn which is still sung in many churches today. Nothing But The Blood of Jesus.

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see: nothing but the blood of Jesus. For my cleansing this my plea: nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone: nothing but the blood of Jesus. Naught of good that I have done: nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace: nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my righteousness: nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Friends, there is no other way of salvation except through the acceptance of the sacrifice that Jesus did for you, believe on Him, and live your lives for Jesus. The world may say there are other ways for repentance, but there is no other way, only through the blood of Jesus.

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

John 3:16-1716 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

My brother Jeff looked at me and Keith many years ago through a T-shirt soaked with blood. We should look at life through the blood-stained cross of Jesus. 

Only through accepting the blood of Jesus as His sacrifice for your righteousness can you be saved. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Since Jesus gave his life for us, we should live our lives for Him. 

How about starting today? It's very simple. Admit that you are a sinner. You have failed God and others around you, and yourself. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to earth from Heaven and died for your sins, took your punishment, and rose from death to eternal victory. Accept this sacrifice for your sins. Accept Jesus as your Savior and your Lord. Then you can live a life of victory here on Earth and have a permanent home in Heaven for Eternity.

Pray this prayer with me. "Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. He shed his blood for me. I believe he rose from death victorious and lives forever. I accept His sacrifice for my sins, I accept Jesus today as my Savior and my Lord. Help me to live each day as You would have me live, until such day I am with you for eternity in Heaven. Amen."

If you prayed this prayer, you are saved. Forever. Eternally saved. And you have power from the Holy Spirit of God to live a better life while you are here.

My brother Jeff said, "I can't see nothing but an old bloody shirt". We should say, "I can't see nothing but an old bloody cross."

You now can look through the lens of life by way of the blood of the cross. Your life will never be the same.

God bless you.

Greg Quinn