The Blood?

What's all this talk about blood? Why do some "faith-concepts" in Christianity seem so foreign? For someone who hasn't embraced Christianity or is unfamiliar with Christian beliefs, terms like "the blood" or "salvation" or "laying on of hands" might seem unrelatable. Nevertheless, we should be careful with that assumption to the point of shying away from the truth that Scripture sets forth. Wisdom embraces explanation and avoids assumption.

How would you explain Jesus shedding his blood on the cross for us?

This is a core Christian doctrine foundational to the good news of salvation. And while on the surface the idea of blood and sacrifice might seem arcane or out of touch with our modern sophisticated society's mindset, it is completely relatable. If you think about it. Scripture says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness ¹ (something we all need, contrary to the 1971 rock song) and that there is life in the blood,

The life of every creature is in its blood. ²

A simple example most people can probably relate to is the giving of blood. In this sacrificial act (especially so for those of us who have a phobia of needles), we allow this precious red fluid that carries life-sustaining nutrients and oxygen to our bodies and also disposes of waste, to be drawn out of us and given to someone who is in need of that life-giving blood - possibly even helping to save their lives. You could say we shed blood for the saving of another.

The way of man is war - it has existed since the beginning of recorded history and will continue as long as we live with our self-centered nature. But war involves sacrifice, even to the point of shedding blood in defense of those who are loved. The laying down of one's life is the ultimate sacrifice. There is no greater love. ³

True justice demands an appropriate payment. We sense that, if we care to be honest with ourselves. But God is merciful, so how does mercy triumph over judgement? ⁴ Blood cries out. Its voice is not silent. It demands payment. But it also makes payment. ⁵ And this is where the sacrifice of Jesus comes in. We understand sacrifice, we understand the idea of justice, we understand that there are those who have laid down their lives for us. We can relate to these ideas; they are not foreign to us.

But what we have a difficult time relating to, or agreeing with, is the fact that our sin, our selfishness, our evil thoughts, every commandment that we've broken from the heart, damns us in the presence of a holy God. But when we, as sinners, come to the realization that our "righteousness" is nothing to be depended upon, when we understand that the good we have done will never outweigh the evil we do in the sight of a perfect God, then we can receive what he has promised, ⁶

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁷

The gospel contains many words that are relatable on the surface, words such as, "father", "home", "accepted", "adopted". These concepts are all part of the Christian vocabulary. And these truths are all made possible by the blood that Jesus, in his great love for us, has shed upon the cross.

References

¹ Hebrews 9:22: In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

² Leviticus 17:14

³ John 15:13: There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

⁴ James 2:13b: Mercy triumphs over judgment.

⁵ Hebrews 12:24: You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

⁶ John 3:14-15: Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

⁷ John 6:40