What's Up With All The Blood?!

We were talking at Bible study at church about the two main promises found in the Bible. Of course, the two promises are the Old Testament and the New Testament. Another word for promise is covenant and another word for covenant is testament. The Old and New Testaments are not just divisions of the Bible, but the reason the divisions are called such is because the books contained within pertain to the corresponding promise. The old promise is that the sins of the people would be atoned by the blood sacrifice of animals performed by the high priests. The new promise is that our sins have been atoned for by the blood sacrifice of Christ given freely as a gift.

The discussion was asking the question, “How could faith in Christ have saved the saints of the Old Testament when they had the sacrifice system and Christ had not yet come?” (Hebrews 3:1-14; 8:8-12; 9:13-15, 19-20; 11:1-2, 8-11, 17) The Bible makes it clear that the Law can only show us our faults and therefore condemn us. The Bible also tells us that only faith in Christ can save us from our sins. So why even institute the animal sacrifice? On top of that, why should Jesus come to earth to die? What is this about blood sacrifice? And Jesus wasn’t just a human, so His death isn’t that drastic considering that He is still alive since He was also fully God and man. Or so it seems. I’ve always had a lot of questions about this. I have been a Christian since I was in kindergarten, and I have been taught the doctrines of the church and theology ever since. I understand that the Old Testament provision was a picture of the provision made possible in Christ. However, I’ve still had troubles with why it had to be this way. I admit that I still don’t understand it all, but it was made strikingly clearer tonight.

It all began when someone said that they always thought of the original blood sacrifice (when God killed the lamb to provide clothing for Adam and Eve’s newly discovered nakedness) as if God took the lamb and almost “tore it open” right before their eyes to show them the gruesomeness of sin. This is a commonly known illustration about the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament. The sacrifices are an obviously gruesome act of which blood is poured over an alter. This is not just an act to be overly harsh to animals as it would appear at first. God is not a god who finds it amusing to abuse animals. Truly this God is the God who created all animals, even before He created humans. No; the Bible says that He sees every sparrow that falls from the sky. Now that is attention! Even the most avid PETA supporter can’t say that. So why then is the animal sacrifice so gruesome? Because God is trying to help us realize how gruesome and deadly sin is to our lives and our relationship with our Father.

Obviously, as just discussed, the animal sacrifices were gruesome. Sin is just as gruesome, if not more. Then, I thought about what the person in class had said God figuratively ripping the lamb apart to clothe Adam and Eve’s nakedness. Then, I think about the Bible passages that talk about the Church being a body of which Christ is the head. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Colossians 1:15-20) Sin separates us from God. That is why we live in a fallen world of pain and suffering; because our sin has created a chasm between and holy, perfect God. So, if we are one body, the blood sacrifice could definitely symbolize the “broken” relationship between us and our “Head”; much like the imagined tearing of the lamb in front of Adam and Eve. Hence, the blood sacrifice. Because of the tearing caused by sin which “separates” us from God, “blood” is spilt from the “body.” Blood is the life source of the body. If the body loses too much blood, it will die. Therefore, a blood transfusion is needed.

So why Christ’s blood? Well, the blood had been ripped out and to stop the cycle of violence (evil), blood needs to be poured back in willingly. God couldn’t ask Adam or Eve to give their blood, because they were the ones bleeding (#1) and because to do so would mean God would lose them (#2) to death. Only Christ’s relationship with God was perfect and not already bleeding. Plus, for Him to give His life isn’t ultimately as tragic because His earthly body was only a clay temple for the eternal “God the Son.” God didn’t lose anyone to death.

PLEASE, don’t get me wrong!!! I am in NO way trying to trivialize the death of Christ on the cross. If the death of an innocent, spotless lamb was tragic; then how much more tragic was the death of the innocent, sinless Lamb of God. He didn’t just have his throat cut; he was mutilated, even to the point of where the on-lookers at Calvary couldn’t tell if He was a man or woman! That is serious mutilation!! Besides that, to add insult to injury, He had to endure a life of resisting temptations and the backstabbing of people around Him. And He did it all for me. And He did it all for you. This gives a new meaning to when Jesus says “I am the Life.” Because life is found the blood, our life is found in His blood.

So, why not just bandage the wound created by the separating and tearing of sin? Why the transfusion? Well, blood had been spilt. God is a just God. Where blood had been lost, blood had to be replaced. Besides, just a quick look at medicine will tell us that transfusions are needed when a large amount of blood is lost. If you remember, the Bible says that Christ is our head. I’m pretty sure that means a lot of blood loss. And on top of that, even to bandage the wound would cause an ugly scar to remain. However, God tells us that all old things are passed away, and behold all things have become new. So why not just bandage the wound? Well, we need new blood. But glory hallelujah, there will be one day when we will receive new bodies!!! Perfect, redeemed bodies will no lacerations or scars. Our relationship with our Father will be restored and the Head will be perfectly joined with the body. Oh, how we wait for the “redemption of our bodies!” (Romans 8:23)