“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” – Leviticus 17:11
Life is in blood. Blood is life (verse 14). This ancient principle explains what Jesus did for us on the cross. It explains why Jesus went to the cross. It explains why Jesus took on a human body and nature and entered our world in the first place. Life is in blood. However, sin leads to death. All sin is rebellion against God’s authority and He is the source of all life. To sin is to separate ourselves from life and bring death upon ourselves. Hence the beginning of Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death…” The truth is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Because sin is death and blood is life, God appointed the sacrifice of blood to make atonement for sin. When we sin, either die for that sin or something innocent must die in our place. That’s what Jesus came to do. He lived a perfect, sinless life and then went to the cross to make atonement for our sins. His body broken and His blood shed to wash away our sins. His blood gives eternal life when trust in Him, His death, and His resurrection from the dead.
Similarly, every covenant of God is sealed with blood, because blood is life and to break a covenant is to ask for death. Jesus sealed the new covenant of grace through His shed blood. We’re no longer doomed to the futility of trying to save ourselves by good works and self-discipline. We are renewed and transformed by God’s grace through faith in His Son. His blood for our lives. Blood is life. #FollowJesus