A Bloody Business

Until very recently, I worked as a nurse supervisor at a blood center where blood is collected to be transfused into patients at local hospitals.  When I would tell people this, there would be two common reactions: curiosity or disgust.  The latter often accompanied by a comment along the lines of, “I hate needles, how can you stand doing that?”  I would laugh and tell them that if didn’t do my job people would die.

Okay, so that may seem a bit over the top, but none the less true. Sure, there is pain involved with donating blood, there is a needle involved after all.  If everyone was too afraid to give blood we would be in trouble; people would suffer greatly and many really would die.  There has to be willing volunteers to give up some of their blood in order to save others who are in need of it.  Someone has to go through pain to allow someone else to experience healing. 

In the Old Testament times, the Israelites had to sacrifice the best of their animals in order to atone for sin.  In order to be right before God, there had to be something given up and blood shed.  

These animal sacrifices are like the units of blood taken at the blood center.  The blood collected helps people stay alive physically and gain health, but it is still just temporary. Everyone still dies eventually. The blood we collect and transfuse is not able to save them from eternal death.  Just like the animal sacrifices under the old law were not sufficient to save the Israelites from eternal death.  A better way was needed.  “For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.” Hebrews 8:7

Imagine if there was perfect blood that we could give to each person that would allow them to have permanent health and eternal life! 

That is what the Israelites hoped for in Old Testament times.  A Messiah to save them from the old law “because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:18-19.

This is exactly what the ultimate blood donor, Jesus Christ, did for us (he is the “better hope” spoken of above).  God knew the old way (the old covenant) was flawed; he created it that way to point to the need for something greater, a new and perfect covenant.  There was need for blood that could truly save.  So, God sent Jesus, the absolute perfect sacrifice.  Jesus came and gave all of his blood for us.  He did this to save us and allow us eternal life forever in glory with him. 

Some of you may have received units of life-saving blood in the past or know of someone who has.   It truly is a precious gift. 

Eternal life is available to each of us also through the gift of blood.  It is the gift of a gracious Savior who wants you to live forever with him.  He voluntarily allowed all of his blood to flow out of his body in order to save you from death.  His blood alone is sufficient to cover all the sins of each one of us “…since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”  Hebrews 7:27.

Do you understand your need for a cure for your sickness called death?  The penalty of our sins is death (Romans 6:23).  We are guilty and therefore headed toward Hell unless we accept the gift of the blood offering Jesus has made for us. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” Romans 3:23-25.

Hebrews 9:22 tells us that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”  I enCOURAGE you to allow Jesus to pay this price for you.  Allow a transfusion to take place and accept this donation given on your behalf: the perfect blood of Christ, with the power to save.