By Malcolm Reedy
 

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev. 12:11)

As Jesus pleads before His Father, “My blood, My blood!” I can hardly imagine the great and wondrous love that They have for us. I am reminded of these verses, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34), and, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Amazingly enough, despite our willful and inherent rebellion against God, His love exceeds our hatred. However, the precious blood of the Son of God runs much deeper than the scenes of Calvary, and is symbolized by the entire sacrificial system of ancient Israel. The symbols that were intended to educate the nation of Israel about Christ, can likewise teach us today. These deep spiritual realities and lessons concerning blood appear throughout the whole Bible. For example:

“And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.” (Lev. 17:10-14)

The Lord warns his children not to eat the blood of any beast, because the life of that animal is in its blood. In the Jewish culture, this “kosher” way of preparing meat has been practiced from the time these things were commanded by the Lord, until the present day. 

When John the baptist saw that Christ was coming unto him, he proclaimed, 

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) 

In context of this verse, consider the following radical statements made by Jesus while teaching his disciples of spiritual things:

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” (John 6:53-58)

Those within the sound of His voice had all grown up, being taught that it was forbidden to eat the blood of any living thing. Imagine the terror and confusion that seized their thoughts upon hearing those words from their beloved teacher! Many who were zealous for God’s law, did not stay around to find out what Jesus fully meant.

“Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60)

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (John 6:66)

But Jesus spoke these words in verse 63:

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” 

It was the unbelief of these disciples that caused them to depart from the presence of Christ. They heard what Jesus was insinuating, yet instead of allowing these words to break down their strongholds of preconceived ideas, they became offended, and in turn, hardened their heart to the message of eternal life. 

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:67-69) 

This confession made by Peter, suggests that he had fully embraced Christ as the Messiah, the one foreshadowed by the sacrificial system.

To the faithful disciples, Christ revisited this analogy in the intimacy of the last supper when He broke the bread, and poured the drink, saying, 

“Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:26-28)

As stated in the book of Leviticus, life is contained within the blood. The command of Jesus here referred not to His physical blood, but His spiritual life. This lesson is repeated today through the communion service, which signifies the reception of the life of God’s Son. 

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)

Christ tells us that His blood was shed for the remission of sins, whereby the power of sin is cancelled, revoked, and suspended in our life. However, the life that flows through our veins has no power to make that happen. Consider the following verses:

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:5-10)

The righteous requirement of God can only be fulfilled by believing on the Son of God, and receiving His Holy Spirit; His very life within us. Through the Spirit, we can now understand the meaning of Christ’s words, 

“He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” (John 6:56)

What a privilege and a joy to dwell in our Lord and He in us! Friends, this is salvation. We are adopted into the very family of the Almighty God when we receive His only begotten Son.  

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Gal. 4:6)

Like blood, another clear symbol of life in the Bible is water; something that Jesus often referenced while teaching. We are encouraged to thirst after the righteousness of God, and we have the promise that He will abundantly quench that desire.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matt. 5:6)

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” (John 7:37)

No wonder blood and water spewed out of His side when the soldier pierced Him upon the cross. (John 19:34) The Man was so selfless and full of life, that even in death these symbols testified of that in verity. The last chapter of the Bible presents a scene of divine glory, as well as an extraordinary invitation. 

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Rev. 22:1)

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)

The free gift of eternal life is ours for the receiving, if only we believe and drink of that spiritual drink of Christ’s blood. Thus, the remission of sin is finally possible according to the promise. 

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:14)

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)