Two weeks ago my husband and I went to donate blood at the German Red Cross. They spoil us here in Germany, in that they actually hire a butcher and prepare a big meal for all blood donors as a thank you! Not quite like the juice boxes and granola bars in Canada, eh? :) They are also very intentional about caring for your health (for example they gave me tablets to replenish my iron). We have begun donating regularly, as often as we're allowed, and it's actually really fun and fulfilling!
Sure the needle pricks a bit, but just the thought that we could be helping save another person's life makes it all worth it! I am amazed at the scientific research and technology that makes this all possible, and totally thankful for the complexity of our bodies and how God created us. WOW! We figure it is such a practical way to "love your neighbor."
I have a hard time fathoming how 500mL of this "red substance" can make such a difference in someone else's life. In fact how is it that blood itself holds the power of life? The Bible was way ahead of scientific data and understanding when it said: "the life of a creature is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). No blood, no life; but new blood, new life!
Our little experience at the blood donation center reminded me of a t-shirt I once saw someone wearing:
"a blood donor saved my life!"
My life, too, was saved by a blood donor. But it didn't happen to Him through nurses and needles; instead by whips and nails. By piercings in His side, by harassment from His enemies and being spit upon. By a crown of thorns being twisted upon His head and His naked body carrying the weight of a cross up to Golgotha.
"Nothing but the blood of Jesus..."
We sing about it, we read about it, we talk about it, and every time we participate in Communion, or the Lord's Supper, at church, we soberly remember and celebrate it. But what does it actually mean that Jesus gave His blood for us?
Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada, and I thought for this day I would like to start a series about the blood of Christ, because it is what I'm thankful for. It is the most precious gift we could receive, the foundation of our salvation. It is of course a huge topic, but here are some basics about the power of Christ's sacrifice:
It is the symbol of the New Covenant I have with God (1 Cor. 11:25). Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Blood was also the seal of the Old Covenant that God made with His people, the Israelites...Every sacrifice the priests made and every animal they offered had to do with the spilling of blood, given "for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance (Hebrews 9:7). "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). Sacrifices were God's way of providing salvation for His people in the Old Testament, but the blood of Jesus was what sealed the New Covenant.
The good news is that now, Jesus doesn't have to offer Himself again and again - His blood sacrifice was once for all (Hebrews 9:25), sufficient to cover our sins...and so much more.
His sacrificial death on the cross was foreshadowed by the Passover event in the Old Testament. When the Lord was about to release His people from the grip of Pharaoh in Egypt, He gave them the command to sacrifice an offering to Him, taking the blood of the animal and marking their doorframes with it. "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13). In that way, the people of Egypt were struck with the judgments of God while Israel was set free.
In the same way, the blood of Christ sets us free. When we accept Christ's gift we are marked by His blood, which offers life, protection, and healing. Here are some of the promises of God from the Bible that talk about the power of the blood of Christ and what exactly this New Covenant is:
1 Peter 1:18-19 The blood of Christ "redeems us from the empty way of life..." Before we knew Christ, we lived in death, in hopelessness, in darkness. Now we belong to Christ and are given Hope and Life and Purpose!
Ephesians 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." We
have eternal life! The blood of Christ fulfilled the requirements of the
law that nothing and no one else could. Jesus Christ gave His life as a
RANSOM (Hebrews 9:15) - setting us free from the effect of sin (which
is death) as the power of sin to control us and be our master (Romans
6).
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John 1:7 The blood of Christ "purifies us from all sin." That means we
are spotless, clean, and no stain of unrighteousness is on us. God sees
us as holy, forgiven, perfect in His sight!!! It doesn't matter what we've done or "how bad" we've messed up - Christ's blood was enough to offer forgiveness for ALL.
Ephesians 2:13 We have been "brought near through the blood of Christ." And Jesus reconciled to Himself all things, "making
peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:20). Because
of sin humans are separated from God, out of relationship with Him,
strangers. But the blood of Christ makes it possible for us to be in
God's presence, to "approach Him with freedom and confidence" (Ephesians
3:12, Hebrews 4:16). We can have peace with God. Jesus is standing next to God, interceding for us (Romans 8:34). What does that mean? It means he "destroyed the barrier, breaking the dividing wall of hostility" that separated us from God, and now stands in the throneroom, holding the door open for us so we may talk to God, hear from Him, be in relationship with Him and experience Him.
What precious promises! Jesus Christ willingly went to the cross, laying down His life and pouring out His blood to give us freedom from sin and peace with God.
And we can be partakers of these promises when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. But His blood has power and an effect on our everyday lives as well...
More on that in Part 2!
