Resources/Articles
Why Blood?
Without the shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:22
Why did Jesus shed His blood to bring salvation? Who would think of cleansing something with blood? It may not make sense for us, but it does for God. The Bible says, “...all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). It may sound disgusting, but this is God’s way of sin-cleansing.
Consider the story of a woman who had to go to a hospital because of a genetic condition which had altered her immune system. Doctors discovered her illness started attacking her blood. In the hospital, this woman thought, “If I lose my blood, I will die. But Jesus shed His blood so I can live!” His life for her life.
It began to make sense. This woman understood life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11,14). Without blood, there is no life. Blood takes in oxygen. Blood distributes nutrients throughout the body. Blood fights disease. Blood regulates body temperature. All those features are taken away if you remove blood from the body. Hence, life ends. Take away the blood of Christ. What would happen? All hope of spiritual life evaporates.
Hebrews 9 explains the meaning of the Old Testament blood ritual (vv. 16-22) and the once and for all offering of Jesus and His blood to “put away sin” (vv. 23-26). Bearing our sin, Christ willingly gave up His blood and died for us. In giving His life, His blood, we can now have life, a holy life needed to have peace with God.
The woman survived her ordeal in the hospital. She recovered from the treatment given by the doctors to fight what was attacking her blood (taking life from her body). If sin is attacking your life, come to Jesus. Come to His blood. Be cleansed from what is attacking your life, your joy, and your hope. “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
