One of American Red Cross’ mission is to get blood donors and they often promote their blood donation drives by banners that read – Give the gift of life; Give blood. So in a sense, life is in the blood. Medically, blood in one’s system is made up of four components – the red blood cells, the white blood cells, the platelets and plasma. The red blood cells are responsible for the transport of Oxygen, an element essential for life. The white blood cells help in fighting against pathogens and harmful threat agents. The platelets help with the prevention of excessive blood loss by aiding in the healing process and the plasma is used to transport nutrients, proteins and hormones to the cells for them to function as they should. So in essence, medically, one can say that life is in the blood. In other words, sans blood, sans life.
Interestingly, and not surprisingly, the Bible actually prescribes to this same notion as Genesis 9:4 forbids man from eating meat with blood still in it, for it states that life is in the blood. The Bible also teaches us that without the shedding of blood, their is no remission – remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22), and, only in the blood of Jesus Christ, through faith in it, is one declared righteous, through the forbearance of God (Romans 3:25).
Points to ponder:
Life is in the blood – the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ blood carries the life giving Spirit like oxygen into our life (John 6:56), when we believe in him. By his blood are we victorious against the harmful viles of the evil one (Revelation 12:11). It was the shedding of Jesus’ blood that brought us healing (Isaiah 53:5), and it is the blood of Jesus Christ, that gives us the power which is needed to grow in his grace and makes us complete for every good work (Hebrews 13:20-21) – to function as we should. Jesus donated his blood, and the Cross on which he was nailed was stained red by his blood. He donated his blood so that you and I may have life. Have you believed in Jesus, for without the blood of Jesus Christ, there is no life – no eternal life? Sans Jesus’ blood, sans life.
Genesis 9:4 (KJV)
4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
Hebrews 9:22 (KJV)
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Romans 3:23-26 (KJV)
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
toni7m
Amen! So powerful and so true! Wonderful cleansing power in the blood of the Lamb