BLOOD . . .
“The blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away.” 1 John 1:7 (CEV)
The human body holds about 1.3 gallons of blood. We marvel at the system that pumps and sends blood to every part of our body. Our circulatory system is truly remarkable—as it is in every animal. Blood is necessary for people and animals to live.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of blood, mentioning it over 400 times. Leviticus 17:14 says, “The life of every living creature is in its blood.”
Blood played an important role in the sacrifices carried out by God’s people in the Old Testament. A sacrifice serves to make atonement for an offense that has been committed. Daily at the tabernacle and temple, scores of animals were killed, and their blood was sprinkled on the altar. That blood was a visible way of showing that the lamb or goat was giving its own blood as payment for the individual’s sins. The animal’s blood served as a substitute. Leviticus 17:11 says, “The life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
Such symbolism pointed directly toward Jesus, the Lamb of God, who came to take away the sin of the world. He shed his blood on the cross as our substitute. Unlike the animal sacrifices, his sacrifice was permanent. Hebrews 9:12 explains it: “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” Now we can stand forgiven before the throne of God, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus’ blood.
From: Precious Words of the Bible by Reynold R. Kremer