The Blood

“For the life of the body is in the blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.” - Leviticus 17:11 (NLT)

In an emergency, we check the pulse, pump the heart, stop the hemorrhage. There’s a reason that a person’s blood is the first priority in any medical scenario. Even in a routine checkup, blood pressure is always monitored. This is all true because, more than anything else, blood is vital to life. It carries oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body, fights and heals infections, and even stimulates life-saving warmth.

Because of its essential role, blood is synonymous with life. To receive blood is to receive life, and to spill blood is to lose life – both figuratively and literally. This fierce dichotomy is essential for understanding God’s plan of redemption, the reason for Christ, the forgiveness of sins. 

“In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.” - Hebrews 9:22-23

The sorrowful reality of our condition is that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sin must be paid for, and the required payment is one’s life – the spilling of blood. This was the only payment fitting for the degree of depravity made manifest in our iniquity against a holy God.

However, in God’s great grace and compassion toward His people, He created a system of animal sacrifice to allow for temporary cleansing so that the sinner could enter into God’s presence to worship Him. Although the animal’s blood truly did purify them, its effect was imperfect and only temporary, creating the need for frequent, ongoing animal sacrifices in order to remain pure before God.

“Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” (Hebrews 9:13-14)

Animal sacrifice could never fully cleanse nor redeem the sinner; it was merely a placeholder until the perfect and complete sacrifice would come. 

Christ’s own perfection would make His sacrifice perfect. It was once for all – the just given for the unjust – so that He might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). 

What gave such power to the blood of Christ? The willful offering of His own self, without any stain of sin in His nature or His life. This blood – shed by the Son of God – would be offered as atonement for whoever would believe in Him, and it would finally be enough.

A life for a life – His life for yours. Blood sacrificed willingly, bound by love.

“So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come.” - Hebrews 9:11

None of us can enter into God's gracious presence – either here today, or in eternity – but by the blood of Jesus. Access to God, communion with Him, and admission into the kingdom of heaven come only by this blood. 

Not only is Christ our perfect sacrifice, He is also our High Priest – the one who applies the blood as the mediator of a new covenant. He is our advocate, pleading our case before the Father. As we plead the blood here on earth, He is pleading it for us in heaven.

In the application of the blood of Christ, your sins are forgiven, you are set free, you have peace with God and you are released to worship.

Does anybody want to be holy, righteous, purified and spotless?

Let me tell you, it's only by the blood.

Does anybody want to be worthy, forgiven, justified, really living?

Let me tell you, it's only by the blood.

“And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.” - Matthew 26:27-28

In keeping with Christ’s instruction – He who became the sacrificial lamb for our sake – let us look to His blood. Remember it, plead it, rely on it, rest in it, and give thanks for it. For without it we are dead in sin, but with it we are alive in Christ. 

It’s only by the blood.