Jesus Gave His Life's Blood for You

When Jesus Christ gave His life in sacrifice, His blood shed at His agonizing crucifixion-a spear piercing His side causing His blood to pour out with water (John 19:34)-He became the doorway (John 10:9) for repentant, obedient people to ultimately be saved from oblivion. God had stated in Leviticus 17:11: "The life of every living thing is in the blood. So I myself have assigned it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives, for the blood makes atonement by means of the life" (New English Translation). We gain helpful perspective on how the blood that flows through your body is essential in sustaining physical life by considering the remarkable work of Dr. Charles Drew.

In 1938 Drew began postgraduate work at Columbia University in New York City and soon earned his Doctor of Medical Science degree, the first black American to do so. His doctoral dissertation was titled "Banked Blood: A Study in Blood Preservation." At that time, scientists and physicians had no means of preserving blood from deterioration. Because whole blood had a "shelf life" of only a few days, for transfusions to be successful, donors had to be on nearly immediate standby. This situation challenged Dr. Drew to search for a method to safely and efficiently preserve blood for future use.

Through extensive experimentation, he discovered that plasma, the light-yellow liquid component of blood, could be separated from blood cells and platelets by means of a centrifuge or through sedimentation. The plasma could then be preserved for lengthy periods by refrigeration, enabling long-distance transport. Through additional research, Dr. Drew learned that plasma could be dried and then safely rehydrated with distilled water. Furthermore, he established how this blood component, which helps stabilize blood pressure and regulates clotting, could be substituted for whole blood in emergency transfusions, such as when treating shock, burns and other traumas.

Father of the blood bank

Dr. Drew's discoveries came just when needed. In September 1939, World War II broke out in Europe, and the German Luftwaffe (air force) soon began a sustained daily bombing campaign against London and other British cities. This resulted in a desperate need for blood transfusions to aid military and civilian casualties. In response, a relief program called "Blood for Britain" was established in the United States to collect plasma donations to send abroad. Because of Dr. Drew's expertise, he was appointed head of the program to safely collect and ship large quantities of life-saving plasma from blood donors at nine New York City hospitals.

At the same time, he was appointed assistant director of a pilot program for a National Blood Donor Service in the United States. To ensure that the nation would have adequate blood supplies of whole blood and plasma in the event the nation entered the war, Dr. Drew developed a system of mass producing dried plasma. In addition, he created and established mobile blood-collection units, known today as "bloodmobiles."

Over the course of Dr. Drew's career, he built an outstanding legacy as a blood-plasma pioneer and as the "father of the blood bank." Not only was his research and work vital in saving the lives of many people during his time, but it built the groundwork for advancing medical science so that countless additional lives could be saved. As Dr. Drew and all medical personnel knew then and know today, there is no substitute for blood.

While people can be instrumental in helping save others' lives by periodically donating blood, let's now focus on what Jesus Christ as Savior accomplished when He came to earth.

Comprehending a sinful person's vulnerable condition

It was by means of Christ's tremendous sacrifice of giving His blood all the way to death that He began the process of spiritually saving every human being, including you. Perhaps it could be said that Jesus was the greatest blood donor of all time. As John 15:13 declares, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

Although Jesus Christ's beaten body and blood refer to the same great sacrifice, He revealed that there is a clear distinction between the bread and the wine of the New Testament Passover, which He instituted on the night before He died. Whereas unleavened bread represented His body, the wine was symbolic of His blood, "which is shed for many for the remission [forgiveness] of sins" (Matthew 26:28).

Under the Old Covenant, the blood of animal offerings foreshadowed Christ's sacrifice. But when He came to earth and lived an entirely sinless life, He offered His own blood as the spotless Passover Lamb (Ephesians 1:7; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). When baptized members of the Church of God participate in the Passover service annually, they clearly acknowledge that their lives have been literally purchased by Jesus Christ through His precious shed blood and that they owe Him everything (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19). All humanity must ultimately come to understand this. Do you?

Without Jesus having paid our personal penalty for sin, we would be utterly condemned to a death of perpetual oblivion since "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," with death as the penalty (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23). Indeed, it's important to truly comprehend a sinful person's vulnerable spiritual condition. The apostle Paul made the following statement about himself, which applies to everyone, including you and me: "So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin" (Romans 7:14, New Living Translation, emphasis added throughout). Through sinful thoughts, words and actions, each of us earned the stark penalty of perpetual death. The only escape from the death sentence is through the blood that Jesus Christ generously poured out for you through His terrible suffering and agony (Matthew 20:28).

By sacrificing His life on your and all our behalf, Christ provided the pathway forward so that our sins, which are violations of His laws (1 John 3:4), can be completely absolved and reconciliation with God the Father can also occur (Romans 5:6-10). Because Jesus was resurrected from the grave and is now at the right hand of His Father in heaven as our High Priest (Mark 16:19), we have the unparalleled opportunity to receive the gift of salvation and everlasting life in His divine Kingdom (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).

When considering this, it is vital to note that Jesus' death and resurrection are only the start of the process of spiritual salvation. And note also that being reconciled with God the Father requires that all of us personally repent of our sins, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and then live by diligently loving God and following His commandments (Acts 2:38-40; Matthew 24:13). The apostle Paul confirmed this when he wrote, "I preached that they must repent of their sins and turn to God and do the things that would show they had repented" (Acts 26:20, Good News Translation).

Coming into harmony with God the Father

As a result of repentance, baptism, faith, obedience and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior, a person is justified-meaning having come into harmony with the Father. Paul wrote, "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT).

And so it can be for you. Not only are you justified, but you are also sanctified or set apart as holy before the Father (Hebrews 13:12). Being so greatly blessed in this way, you therefore have the ongoing responsibility as a servant of righteousness (Romans 6:18) to conduct yourself uprightly by carefully following the example Jesus Himself set. Even though you will stumble and sin at times after baptism, you can and must continue to profoundly repent, and you will be forgiven and washed clean of sin. This is because the living Christ in heaven graciously intercedes with the Father on your behalf (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:14-15).

Now, some questions: What happens to your sins after you deeply repent? Isaiah 1:18 states, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." How far from you are your iniquities carried away? Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." When you have your sins forgiven and forgotten forever through the blood of Christ, you can be at complete peace with God. Paul wrote about the genuine peace of mind and the closeness to God that results from His forgiveness: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near [to the Father] by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13).

You can have complete confidence that He will hear and respond when you approach Him in trusting prayer. As Scripture further tells us, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Having this open door to come before God the Father in prayer in Jesus' name makes it possible for you to know that you are God's very own treasured and loved child (1 John 3:1-2).

Delivered from the power of darkness

Another outstanding benefit of embracing Christ's sacrifice is that we are rescued from the relentless and oppressive influence of Satan the devil. God "has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14).

This is incredibly important because the devil is described as the "ruler of this world" (John 12:31; John 14:30), being chief of the demonic "rulers of the darkness of this age" (Ephesians 6:12). In this regard, it is vital to understand that since Satan is utterly evil, debased, cunning and corrupt, he will not give up on attempts to draw us back into his foul ways of disobedience toward God. You, as all of us, must therefore be constantly on guard against temptation and sin while staying exceedingly close to your Heavenly Father through regular prayer and Bible study. The apostle Peter wrote: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

It is the sustained application of the blood of Jesus Christ throughout your life that gives you full victory over Satan and his "cunning craftiness" (Ephesians 4:14). In this respect, Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." Paul offers you the following encouraging words as you strive to faithfully accomplish your godly calling: "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever" (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Finally, the blood that flows through your body is critical in sustaining your physical life. It was through Dr. Charles Drew's remarkable research and work on ways of preserving blood plasma that the lives of countless individuals have been saved. And, regarding your perfect Savior Jesus Christ, it was throughHis enormous sacrifice and tremendous love that you and all people have the opportunity to be spiritually saved and granted everlasting life in God's Kingdom and family!

Since Jesus gave His precious life's blood for you to the point of dying, what will you do to make sure you will be delivered from ultimate death and given the matchless gift of salvation and everlasting divine life? God is awaiting your answer!

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Jesus Gave His Life's Blood for You

Donating a pint of blood at a blood bank can help save another person's life. When Jesus Christ gave His blood to the point of death in an enormous sacrifice, He opened the door for us to be saved from death, making it possible for all of us to have eternal life-you included.

Father of the blood bank

Comprehending a sinful person's vulnerable condition

Coming into harmony with God the Father

Delivered from the power of darkness