Writing for the March/April 2024 issue of Israel My Glory, Jim Showers presented a one-page article simply titled, Why Blood? Why did God prescribe blood as the necessary cleansing agent of sin? Reading the article sparked something within me as I understood an old truth in a new way.
The concept of blood being a cleansing agent is becoming increasingly foreign. Today, even though we know we need it to survive, we still think ewwwww! every time we see it. Some even pass out at the sight of blood. Our tendency is to think of blood in negative terms:
We have blood borne pathogens, illnesses transmitted through contact of an individual’s blood or body fluids. Those working in the public sector typically must attend classes that teach what diseases might get transmitted, how to avoid it, and what to do if you do come in contact.
A murder scene is seen as something bloody and unpleasant. The rookie officer on the scene might lose his lunch over the graphic nature of what he sees.
Injury is often associated with blood. Cuts, protruding fractures, severed limbs or appendages are going to be accompanied by blood.
Some diseases are associated with blood. In the Gospels, there was a woman who had an “issue of blood” for 12 years. This made her unclean and she was to be avoided lest contact make others unclean.
Then, we have the gruesome sight of Old Testament sacrifices. After the fall of Adam, God makes it very clear that blood was going to be necessary to cover the sins of man. Genesis 3:21 says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Did Adam and Eve see the slaughter of the innocent? Were they horrified to think that they had caused this?
As the priesthood of the Old Testament was established, sacrifices were an ongoing practice. The acceptable animal sacrifice had to be of certain quality and meet certain specifications. Even so, the effects of that sacrifice were only temporary. Hebrews 10:4 reminds us, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
Why weren’t the animal sacrifices “good enough?” Simply put, the best animal used for sacrifice was still under the Genesis curse. It was not perfect. Secondly, an animal and a
human are two different “kinds” according Genesis. We are not related. We are not of the same species.
What can be done about this?
Speaking of the coming Messiah, Isaiah 53:4-6 says, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Not only was humanity created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), Jesus took on humanity. Philippians 2:5-8 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Jesus was the PERFECT Lamb of God. He was sinless and pure in every way. He took on the form of humanity so that He could be of the same “kind” as that which He was redeeming. Jesus was 100% God and 100% man.
Now, here’s the passage that hit me with a newfound power. Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood…” There’s LIFE in the blood. Before salvation, Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” How does this happen? There’s LIFE in the blood.
As you think about this through the day, give glory to the God who gave life in His blood. Jesus said in John 6:53-54 “… Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (54) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
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