Week 6 · Friday

Lifeblood

by Brent C. Wolfe

Hebrews 9:22 …without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

August of 1976 turned out to be a very defining time in my life. I discovered that “vampires” weren’t the only things that like to drain the blood out of humans. Hospitals also seemed determined to get every last drop out of my small, six-year-old body. I was on vacation with my parents when I contracted juvenile diabetes. Nurses would come 3-4 times a day and draw blood to check sugar levels, trying to bring them under control. Back then it wasn’t a quick finger prick; they would draw a couple vials. I remember by the end of my two-week stay it took thirteen doctors and nurses to hold me down because my arms were swollen black and blue from all the blood tests. But it was necessary. I would have died if my sugar levels continued to rage out of control. 

Scripture says in Leviticus 17 that the life of a creature is in the blood. That is why Christ’s blood is so precious to us. When you think about it, it is kind of an oxymoron. Christ shedding his blood and dying on the cross is what brought us life. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” His death (a perfect unblemished sacrifice) was the necessary requirement of our holy God. Think of it as a spiritual transfusion. Only his blood type (perfect/sinless) could heal a world dying from the deadly disease of sin.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your gift of life—the blood of Christ that has given me eternal life. I am forever grateful for the sacrifice You poured out to save a dying people…including me.