With His Own Blood
With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. – Hebrews 9:12
Some of us have an aversion to what can be described as the ‘Blood Narrative’ of the Gospel. Some say the ‘Blood Narrative’ and its corresponding songs are too guilt-ridden … or too condemning … or even just too gory and depressing to inspire positive faith and worship.
Like the cross itself, there is nothing particularly appealing about blood. Even when we see blood managed properly in medical settings, the very sight of it triggers a certain awe and a certain panic within us. We know that blood is life, and the inordinate loss of it puts life in danger.
But despite the apprehensions many of us have around the very thought of blood, nothing else but blood adequately reflects the gravity and severity of God’s love for us. According to Scripture, there is no redemption for our sins without the shedding of blood. Sin that destroys life requires nothing less than a blood transfusion to restore life.
In giving his own blood for us, Jesus pumps new life into veins that were emptied by vanity. When we strip away the nicenesses and euphemisms of redemption, we are left with a love that is so profound it can only be represented in the image of a blood sacrifice … the blood of Jesus. When we see the blood, we see the amazing depth of God’s love for all of us who were hemorrhaging without hope.
Prayer
Oh the blood of Jesus, it will never lose its power to heal … to restore … and to bring new life. Amen.
About the AuthorKenneth L. Samuel is Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia.