Talking Points with President Woodford: The Blood of Christ

He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12)

The sight of blood makes many people squeamish. It’s not an everyday sight for most. If you live on the farm, are a butcher, or a hunter, you are accustomed to it more than most. But blood is central to God’s plan of redemption. It’s there throughout the Old Testament and there in the New Testament, especially in the book of Hebrews.

Of course, blood was central to God’s whole design for His creation of life. Consider the human body. The average adult human has 10-12 pints of blood depending on body size and gender. That blood circulates throughout the body through what is cumulatively 60,000 miles of blood vessels—the big ones called arteries and veins, and the little ones called capillaries.

God’s design of blood is intricate and amazing. Blood carries oxygen from the lungs to the entire body. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds oxygen and feeds the vital organs of the body. Likewise, blood carries nutrients from the food you digest throughout the body to provide energy, so your body can grow, heal, and function properly.

Even more, blood removes waste from the body. It carries carbon dioxide to the lungs to be exhaled, and it transports waste to the kidneys and liver for removal. Blood contains white blood cells that attack bacteria and viruses to fight infections and keep you healthy. God’s design of blood is simply a marvel to behold.  

The study of blood is called hematology, which isfrom the Greek word for blood αἵματος (haimatos), which is used throughout the book of Hebrews. Of course, hematologists are blood doctors who spend some 12 years learning about blood. However, Christians could be called biblical hematologists as we explore the importance of blood not just for our bodies but for our eternal salvation.

In Genesis 15, God makes a covenant with Abraham by the blood of animals. In Exodus 24, Moses fills whole basins with oxen blood—imagine the sight! He throws half of it against the altar, then reads the book of the covenant, and takes the other half of it and sprinkles it on the people saying, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD (Yahweh) has made with you in accordance with these words.” (Ex. 24:8).

The whole sacrificial system described in the book of Leviticus was based upon the shedding of blood. Why? Because sin brought death. In Israel’s daily liturgy of sacrifice, God vividly reminded His people that sin carried the death penalty. Day after day animals were led to slaughter in the holy place of the tabernacle, and then later in the temple.

Imagine taking your animals (what you may call your pets) and bringing them to be sacrificed regularly for all the times you break the commandments of God. Misuse God’s name? Blood must be shed. Disobey your parents? Blood must be shed. Steal some tools? Blood must be shed. Covet your neighbor’s house? Blood must be shed. For every sin, blood must be shed!

You might say the book of Leviticus was the first book of hematology. Leviticus 17:11 makes clear the significance of blood: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” (NKJV). Blood, you see, is life. To use it that way (ritually and sacrificially) meant something had to die. Thus, by the shedding of blood the life of sinners was spared.

This is the background to understanding the book of Hebrews. It all pointed to the blood that would be shed once for all, once and for all, by our intermediary Jesus Christ. 12He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12)

“By the means of His own blood…” This was the blood He shed when His flesh was torn open by the whip. It was the blood He bled when nailed to the cross. It was the blood poured out when the spear pierced His side. “By the means of His own blood…” Jesus was the Son of God, perfect and without sin, yet fully human so that His blood could be shed for you.   

How many of His veins were broken open? How many capillaries were ruptured? Did His lungs collapse from being beaten and prevent oxygen from filling His body? How much blood did he lose? What blood type was He, anyway? Questions about the humanness of Jesus reminds us of the extent of His suffering. For every sin, blood must be shed!

Hematologists tell us that human beings have eight basic blood types—another of God’s intricate designs. This is important to know for things like blood transfusions or treating diseases like hemophilia (where the blood does not clot), or leukemia (which is a blood cancer). Each blood type is unique. Perhaps you know your own. If someone is bleeding out, they must receive the right blood type, or their body will reject it.

Such conditions remind us of our own frailty and our own mortality. One day your lungs will stop putting oxygen into your blood; one day your heart will stop pumping blood throughout your body. It’s the condition we all face. Sin brings death. We cannot get around it.

In other words, we are bleeding out and need the right blood type. Our eternal death is certain without someone intervening. So on the cross Jesus becomes our blood donor.

But the thing about Jesus is He did not stay dead. On the third day, His heart again began pumping blood throughout His body. On the third day, His lungs again began putting oxygen into His blood. On the third day, Jesus came forth from the grave as the Lamb of God whose shed blood takes away the sin of the world! For every sin, blood must be shed.  

Where the High Priest sprinkled the blood of animals upon the mercy seat lest they desecrate God’s holiness, Christ entered the holiness of heaven itself to stand before God as our High Priest with His own blood. And His blood type is indeed powerful!

Maybe it was “O Negative” since He gave His blood for all and O Negative is a universal blood type everyone can receive? Or maybe since Jesus receives all sinners, it was “AB Positive” which is the blood type that’s able to be a universal recipient? No matter. Jesus, the innocent Son of God shed His blood for you and thus secured your eternal redemption.

By the blood of Jesus your shame is removed. Your guilt is erased. And your sorrow is relieved. In fact, His blood is here for you still today. Jesus says so, “Take, drink, this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt. 26).

Receive it often! You need it. Spiritual anemia all too often makes your faith weak. The devil, the world, and your own sinful flesh constantly attack you, making you weak to resist temptation and susceptible to spiritual fatigue, so you need a blood supplement. You need the blood of Jesus.  

So come to think of it, then, we do know His blood type. We know its vintage. It is the fruit of the vine. The medicine of immortality. The cup of salvation. In the sacramental mysterious union of Christ’s blood that’s in, with, and under the wine and Christ’s body that’s in, with, and under the bread, there is a treasure that contains all the promises of the Gospel. Just as no tomb could keep Jesus down, no tomb will ever keep down those who in faith have His body and blood in them.

Yes, for every sin, blood must be shed! But when that is the blood of Christ, every sin is removed, every lie is rejected, every life is remade, and every believer shall be resurrected.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Lucas V. Woodford
President, MN South District
The LCMS