Why So Much Talk About Blood?

Dear Faith Family,   

"For if the blood of goats and bulls...sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ...purify our conscience (soul) from dead works to serve the living God."
(Hebrews 9:13-14)

How much more? That's the question the author of Hebrews proposes. How much more effective, eternal, extensive is the blood of Christ offered because of sin, for life different? After all, that's why, 

"Jesus entered once and for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus securing for us an eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:12) 

While the concept of a priest, and Jesus as our high priest of good things, might have felt foreign to some of us, I am confident that the ritual sacrifices involving blood are actually foreign to us! And while I am sure we have all sung the words, "I've been washed by the blood of the Lamb," or something comparable, do we really understand the necessity of Christ's blood as an offering that changes us? How do blood and redemption relate? 

The idea of innocent blood covering the shame of a forfeited life so life might continue goes back to the first moments of life with God ruptured by human sin (Genesis 3:21). The idea of the cost of a guilty life, being lifeblood itself as a means of maintiaing justice with mercy for the good of all life, follows the judgment of evil and promise of perptual forebarence at the peak of humanity's violence (Genesis 6:1-9:17). Yet, the concept becomes solidfied in story and ritual in the infamous final plauge which breaks the people of Israel free from the grip of slavery known as "the Passover" (Exodus 11-12). 

It is during the Passover that the high priest enters the holy of holies with the blood sacrificed to make atonement for sin, thereby redeeming from the blood guilt all the people of God through the blood offered, which God had provided. That's the context behind Hebrews 9. While that might be helpful to understand why the author is making the comparison between the blood animals and the blood of Jesus, as we discussed on Sunday, sometimes we need to see something before we can really appreciate it. 

Similar to last week, I invite you to:

• Watch the video then

• Take 10 minutes to contemplate Jesus Ascended*. 

Envision your merciful and faithful high priest of good things, "After making purification for sin, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..." Allow the images of Jesus in your mind and heart to lead your lips into confession and praise to the One who has reclaimed us. 


Love you, faith family. God bless.