Leviticus 17:10-14 “‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. For 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. Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.” Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”
Sounds to me like the Lord wanted to get across the point that the blood of every living creature (that means humans also) is in their blood. Blood is living. It contains white blood cells that fight off infections and all that garbage; red blood cells that bring oxygen to the parts of the body that need it; plus some other things. Without blood, any living creature dies.
Some cultures or cults believe that drinking the blood of the creature will give them it's life - it's power - make them somehow better or stronger or inherit their spirit (which is usually not the dead animals' or persons' spirit at all, but a demonic entity). Some cults want just that - the power of the demonic. But we know that there is only One who is All-Powerful - the Most High Almighty God!
Let's look at the Last Supper. Matthew 26 records, "Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
In Leviticus - the blood made atonement for the people's sins. Blood for forgiveness and restoration. Life for life. In Matthew, Jesus is saying that the wine represented His Blood of the covenant. As Charles Spurgeon says in his sermon on the Blood of the Covenant "There is beauty enough in Jesus to make him forget our deformities, merits enough in Jesus to swallow up our demerits, and efficacy sufficient in the atoning blood of our great High Priest to wash away all our transgressions." Jesus gave His Life for us, so that we would not die in our sins and be under everlasting judgment, but reconciliation with God, our Father. The Holy Lord's Life - His Blood - for our lives. His Blood for our blood.
I find it interesting that His is the only Blood that is permissible to drink - through the wine (or grape juice). It's not just a symbolic remembrance of what Jesus did for us. No, it's Life itself we are taking into us as we remember His death and resurrection. It's resurrection power through the Body and Blood of Jesus. There have been miracles of healing and freedom just from the simple act of communion. There's no doubt in my mind that somehow Jesus/Holy Spirit is present during that time.
So, Life is in the spilled Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ.
O the Blood - Gateway Worship
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