What do you think?
Rate this book
The Blood of the Cross
devotional
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1920
36 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Murray
1,203 books549 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.
He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).
Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.
Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.
He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).
Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 2, 2024
The writing is older so it took me a min but the ideas were so so so gold! Highly recommend👏🏻
March 19, 2021
I found myself just slogging through this book without much enthusiasm. I felt from the outset that some of his use of Scripture was stretched, though there was nothing over which I strongly disagreed with him. His understanding of Jesus' actuall blood in a vessel in a physical temple in heaven just seems a bit overly literal to me. He also mentions some things about missions that today come across as racist, though in that era surely didn't strike ears as offensively as they do today.
I think if he had stuck more closely to a theological purpose and made the work more scholarly, it would have been better. Or if he had aimed to make the book strictly devotional, that also might have worked, but the path down the middle of those two aims just is not satisfying here.
I think Andrew Murray has a strong reputation. I have come across two friends who really think highly of him, and perhaps some of his other works would justify that acknowledgement. His writing is elegant, but it didn't come across to me as quite as intellectual or philosophical as others of his era.
The book isn't bad - it just isn't the kind of writing that works for me.
I think if he had stuck more closely to a theological purpose and made the work more scholarly, it would have been better. Or if he had aimed to make the book strictly devotional, that also might have worked, but the path down the middle of those two aims just is not satisfying here.
I think Andrew Murray has a strong reputation. I have come across two friends who really think highly of him, and perhaps some of his other works would justify that acknowledgement. His writing is elegant, but it didn't come across to me as quite as intellectual or philosophical as others of his era.
The book isn't bad - it just isn't the kind of writing that works for me.
November 24, 2025
A subject that probably doesn't get the attention that it should. The blood of Christ, the blood in general, is, to quote one author, the scarlet thread that runs from cover to cover, and to remove it is to leave the bible fragmented.
Andrew Murray explores the power in Christ's blood in chapters such as The Spirit and the Blood, Faith in the Blood, The Blood Bought Multitude, Purchased by the Blood, Washed in the Blood, and many, many others.
The book is only 139 pages long and easy to read. Yes, I would recommend it!
Andrew Murray explores the power in Christ's blood in chapters such as The Spirit and the Blood, Faith in the Blood, The Blood Bought Multitude, Purchased by the Blood, Washed in the Blood, and many, many others.
The book is only 139 pages long and easy to read. Yes, I would recommend it!
March 27, 2017
If you have read Andrew Murray you know that it is not light reading. This particular issue of the book claims to have “simply translated outdated words and phrase into those more commonly used …” Nevertheless be prepared to take time to absorb. I found that I could not do it justice unless I removed all distractions – doesn’t work in a waiting room area, for instance.
About the historical meaning of the blood: “When the priests were separated to their ministry, the blood was placed upon the tip of the ear, on the thumb of the hand, and on the toe of the foot. Possession was taken of the entire man for God. All his powers were sanctified: his ear to listen to and for God; his hand to work by and for God; his foot to walk with God and to go out in His service.”
About the Holy Spirit: “He unites Himself so entirely with us and our endeavors, that we still imagine that it is our own thinking or willing, where He has already been the hidden Worker.”
About the sacrifice of our Lord: “The blood has a divine power to produce results in us today.” “There is no single moment in which the blood is not exerting its full power. In the heavenly Holy of Holies where the blood is before the throne, everything exists in the power of eternity, without cessation or diminution.”
About the historical meaning of the blood: “When the priests were separated to their ministry, the blood was placed upon the tip of the ear, on the thumb of the hand, and on the toe of the foot. Possession was taken of the entire man for God. All his powers were sanctified: his ear to listen to and for God; his hand to work by and for God; his foot to walk with God and to go out in His service.”
About the Holy Spirit: “He unites Himself so entirely with us and our endeavors, that we still imagine that it is our own thinking or willing, where He has already been the hidden Worker.”
About the sacrifice of our Lord: “The blood has a divine power to produce results in us today.” “There is no single moment in which the blood is not exerting its full power. In the heavenly Holy of Holies where the blood is before the throne, everything exists in the power of eternity, without cessation or diminution.”
June 30, 2012
It was basically good, but I had a hard time concentrating for some reason... my mind would wander and I'd have to reread whole pages again... then there were parts that were intense and I highlighted as noteworthy.
I forgot to note my start time, but it took over a month because I did not pick it up everyday and I was not reading as much when helping with my Grandbabies :-)
I forgot to note my start time, but it took over a month because I did not pick it up everyday and I was not reading as much when helping with my Grandbabies :-)
April 23, 2016
This a great book. It is even better than Murray's The Power of the Blood of the Cross because these chapters have a more personal tone to them. They were all sermons he delivered and then wrote for publication. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
December 15, 2022
Some excellent exhortations and thoughts though the first half seemed especially wordy. Chapter 5 on Jesus bringing humility as the second Adam, and chapter 6, on missions, we’re excellent. Much worship and thanksgiving for the blood of the Lamb throughout.
March 17, 2021
This book was good for me to read. The information is spot on. But it is not entertaining reading. It really required discipline, but it was good for me. It causes me to look at the blood of Calvary much more deeply.
Read
November 24, 2007andrew murray was the beginning of a turning point in my christian life. (i had a turning point that lasted a couple of yeras). the blood of Christ was offered "through the eternal spirit" according to hebrews 9:14. the blood can be applied to my conscience today. the blood has all the effectiveness today as when it was shed and by the spirit is applied to me to wash me inwardly. a mysterious spiritual reality. this book is very sweet. also the blood, representing the life that was offered up,contains the disposition of the One who offered it. as it is applied to my conscience and heart His disposition becomes mine. a little theoretical for me at the time but very attractive and made the lord very attractive to me.
August 8, 2011
Still reading and you need a really clear mind, to absorb all Andrew Murray is saying, just like all his books.
I do catch up with this book when am free at lunch during work.
I do catch up with this book when am free at lunch during work.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews