Redeemed by the Blood

By Pastor Chad

Does blood sometimes make you queasy? The Bible talks a lot about blood. In fact, Jesus mediated the new covenant by the shedding of His blood, which cleanses all who are called. Blood, however, was also part of the old covenant. The author of Hebrews references the inauguration and confirmation of the old covenant by quoting Exodus 24. There we read that when the Mosaic covenant was confirmed, “Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, ‘All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.’ And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words’” (Ex. 24:6-8). The shedding of blood was an atonement for the unknown sins of the people.  

It is almost intuitively obvious that the shedding of blood is a sign of recompense to God. Just about every culture in the world practices or practiced some form of sacrificial system. Why? How do cultures that have never interacted with one another have the same underlying religious inclination? I believe it is because we all understand our disconnection from God and are seeking restitution. And we understand that this relationship can only be mended by a significant offering to God. The author of Hebrews says just that in Hebrews 9:23b: “[W]ithout the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.”  

Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for us. He shed His blood as an act of restitution before God. Because of our sin, no mere animal sacrifice was enough. If Jesus did not die, there is no forgiveness of sin. Christ’s death procures for us what animal sacrifices never could–eternal redemption and forgiveness for our transgressions. To rightly atone for the sins of humanity, God sent His Son to die on the cross. His blood is the only sufficient cleansing agent to remove the stains of depravity and death. 

On Easter, we discussed the brutal and graphic reality of Jesus’ crucifixion. If you have ever seen The Passion of the Christ, you know it isn’t easy to watch the violent depiction of Jesus’ beating and execution. Yet, the shedding of blood most pointedly characterizes the graphic and offensive nature of our sin toward God. As a holy, righteous God, sin is repugnant to His very nature. It’s almost as if the sacrificial system was set into place to show us the heinous reality of our sin before God. It is a physical manifestation of harshness of our sinful nature. That’s not to say that human beings repulse God. My point is that our sin is an abhorrent offense toward God. He cannot simply overlook it. Atonement is necessary. That’s why Jesus died. And that’s why He died like He did.