Leviticus 17:11 – For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ NKJV
There is no way to have a real discussion on the imagery in the word of God without talking about the blood. There was a time in church history when many people thought that the topic of the blood was too graphic for them and their children. Sadly to say, they made a great effort to remove the blood from the churches. But they did so without realizing that there is life in the Blood! Not only to all flesh, but to the people of God! So as they removed the topic of the Blood, and all references to the Blood from their churches, they caused their churches to die!
In Leviticus, Moses explains that there is a connection between life, blood, and flesh. When he says the life of flesh is in the blood, he was inferring that without the blood, there is no life! Physically or spiritually! There is no way to touch on all the spiritual aspects of the blood in a simple blog, and I won’t even try, but I do have something I want to say.
Acts 17:26-27 – And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; NKJV
Paul made this statement to the Athenians, when he declared that the “unknown god” they were worshipping was the One he wanted to tell them about. As he began to preach to them, he began by making mention of the truth that all the nations on the face of the earth came from one blood. Although we may be of different skin colors, speak different languages, and live in different locales, we are of one blood. Shakespeare wrote in his play, “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” Everyone one of us!
The same is true spiritually! We all receive spiritual life through the Blood of Jesus. Nothing else!
Ephesians 1:7 – In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace…
Every believer on the planet, all those who have gone before us, and all who will come after us, access eternal life through the Blood of Jesus!
The imagery of the Old Testament, with the blood, was all done to prepare mankind for the truth of the Blood of Jesus! We know this to be true because in the same verse in Leviticus, it is written, “I have given it (the blood) to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls…” God’s whole purpose for establishing the ceremonial practices of blood sacrifice, was to help us to realize that spiritual life, which is a result of being reconciled to God, was connected to blood.
But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12 – NKJV
Here are my favorite Old Testament examples of the blood:
- The Passover instituted in Exodus. This is a beautiful picture, and an excellent example, of the power of having faith in the blood.
‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:12-13 – NKJV
Every believer should understand the significance of the Passover. God made it absolutely clear that the only reason they would be spared from the plague, was because of the blood!
One of the last events that Jesus shared with His disciples was the Passover meal, called the Seder.
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:20 – NKJV
That first Passover, was our example of the shedding of Jesus’ blood. Death has no power over us, when the Blood has been applied. His Blood gives us eternal life, for there is life in His Blood!
- The scarlet cord that Rahab used when she let down the spies:
So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. Joshua 2:17-19 – NKJV
Rahab thought nothing of the scarlet cord as she used it to let the spies down and required a promise of safety from them. But when they saw the red cord, it reminded them of the Passover, and of the blood. Therefore, they told her that if they saw the scarlet cord in the window, and her family was in the house, they would find protection. If not, then they were free of their oath. Rahab, not knowing the true significance of that scarlet cord, made sure it was there, and she and her family were delivered!
In both of these examples, life was found in the blood. As the people obeyed God’s word in applying the blood, He supernaturally protected their natural lives. It wasn’t just spiritual life that the blood spoke to, but natural life!
Today, we as believers have been promised eternal life through the Blood of Jesus! It’s the greatest of all of the promises of God. The many references to blood in scripture was to assure us of the power of the Blood of Jesus to give us life, purify us from sin, and most importantly, reconcile us to God. If you have not applied the Blood to the doorpost of your heart, I encourage you to do so today! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 