Description
The Significance of Blood in the Bible: Forgiveness and Sacrifice
The Bible frequently mentions blood, often in the con… (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
Some people have accused the Bible of being bloodthirsty, and you can understand why. It does mention blood a lot. What’s that all about? Matthew 26 verse 28 is one example: For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus here is talking about himself. He’s talking about his own blood being poured out to ensure forgiveness of sins. Now, the listeners would’ve known what blood was all about in connection with forgiveness. The Levitical laws, the laws set out by Moses talk so much about sacrifice and the use of blood and how that restores people’s relationships.
During one of the great plagues of Egypt, the blood of a lamb was sprinkled around the doorpost and this ensured that the occupants of that building were safe when the Angel of Death went through to take the firstborn.
In Leviticus 17:11, it mentions that the life of a creature is in its blood. There’s this strong connection between life and, strangely, cleanliness, and blood.
When Jesus talks about the blood being poured out, his blood being the instigator of the new covenant, this is all strongly connected with cleanliness and forgiveness. This is part of the way God has made this universe.
When you look at what happens in the Old Testament, you can see there was no way for God to ensure we could all be forgiven except by having a supreme once for all sacrifice, which involved the shedding of blood. Because literally and figuratively, that blood secures our forgiveness.
I have to admit that I do find that strange, and this is one of the questions that I might want to ask God when we get into the next life: God, why is blood important for forgiveness? Nevertheless, we know it to be true. The witness of scripture is consistent on this point. Jesus’ blood is the way that we are saved, and we must thank God that he made that possible.
