Nothing but the Blood
Usually, blood makes people squeamish. In fact, in movies, if there is a certain amount of blood shown it will raise the content rating making the movie unsuitable for children/teens. Even for adults, approximately 15% faint when donating blood. But we know that blood is a good thing and that it is essential for the human body. It helps us fight off bacteria, keeps our organs working properly, and ultimately it sustains our lives.
The gruesome nature of blood is seen in the book of Hebrews when the writer says, “For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people saying, 'This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.' And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:19–22).
In the Bible, “blood” is a very common word in reference to sacrifice. In the song "Nothing But the Blood," we sing “What can wash me pure as snow?” If you didn’t know the title of the song, I’m guessing that “blood” would not be the first thing that came to mind. This song is referencing multiple Scriptures which speak to this truth:
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18).
“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14).
This incredible poetic imagery captures the theological working of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross—that our sins would be washed white by the blood of Christ.
Why is the depiction of blood, sacrifice, and death so gruesome in Scripture? Why does this brutality make the average person squirm and want to look away? I believe that it is to show us what we deserve.
The horrific scenes of sacrifices, blood on doorposts, and death are to show us what we deserve, and rightly so, as “sinners in the hands of an angry God.” Blood sacrifice helps us understand the cost of the cross. It represents what the penalty for our sin should have been. The penalty for our sin demands a sacrifice of death.
Never forget the cost to Christ as you calculate the cost of discipleship.
We have a God who chose to be our substitute and die in our place. And on Sunday, we just celebrated Christ’s victory over Satan, sin, and death as He rose from the grave. To read more about this extremely important exchange, check out the articles below. John Piper’s video on articulating this important message of atonement to our current culture is especially good.
Pastor Caleb