priestLeviticus 17: 14 . . . for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: . . .
Although Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are now past for another year, their significance in the life of every believer from that day till now, continues to be felt!
As I continue my reading in Leviticus, I came across the passage in chapter 17, dealing with the directive not to eat blood, or meat that has not been drained of its blood. Medically speaking, the human digestive tract does not appreciate blood in the system, and has difficulty breaking it down. It is known to cause queasy stomachs when enough has dribbled through nasal cavities into the throat during a simple nose bleed.
Science has taught us that blood has many functions within the body ranging from delivery of iron and nutrients to disposal of cellular garbage. As much as we currently understand about this amazing liquid, scientists continue to research and learn more. One thing is 100% certain however, any human being or critter deprived of their blood, dies. This goes for those even for whom the blood is not red, but some other colour. I’ve met people who figure a creature doesn’t have blood because nothing red came out when they killed it. However, many critters, particularly of the insect variety, have white, green, brown or even black liquid carrying nutrients to all parts of their tiny little bodies. For humans, the colour is red. Scientists say this is due to the amount of iron in our blood giving it that colour. Blood that has fresh oxygen in it will typically show up in a cut as bright red, while blood carrying CO2 and other contaminants will often show up purple or darker red instead. Blood carrying oxygen and nutrients travels through the arteries while blood carrying the garbage travels through the veins. Blood is also known to carry blood-borne diseases and cancers, causing some people to suffer through blood transfusions designed to completely replace a person’s entire blood supply in an effort to halt the spread of whatever the disease is being carried through the system.
In the Old Testament law, God was carefully outlining the purpose that blood would play in dealing with the sins and transgressions of the people. However not only was the blood of an animal to be used to temporarily atone for the sins of those bringing it, but the blood was also used to sanctify and make holy, various aspects of temple worship. The life blood of an animal was being used in exchange for the life of the person coming to the altar.
Understanding this very important dynamic and how precious the blood is in God’s eyes, it would become intimately clear to various people down through Scriptural history that salvation was through the shedding of blood in the remission of sins. Is it no wonder then, that we come to the New Testament and hear Christ saying:
Matthew 26:27-29 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Christ choosing to take on the role of the sacrificial lamb continues in the teachings He personally gave to the Apostle Paul as Paul writes to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 1:6-7 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
The writer of Hebrews wraps up such thoughts very well in chapter 9:
Hebrews 9:6-15 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 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.
Truly, everlasting life is found in the Blood of Jesus Christ!
