~
Critical Factor: Blood ~
Introduction
~ In
this series we will look at the four most basic physical needs for a human to
survive, and how Jesus Christ satisfies the parallel spiritual needs. Then we will look at three additional
critical factors related to both our physical and spiritual needs.
Physical
Needs ~ According
to basic physiological understanding mankind needs four basic elements in order
to survive physically: water, air, food, and light. Jesus satisfies the
parallel spiritual needs. Jesus is the
Living Water (John 4:10-11, 7:38). Jesus
provides the Breath of Life (Genesis 2:7, Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35,
48). Jesus is the Light of the World (John
8:12, 9:5).
There are three additional critical factors necessary for physical
life: rest, healing, and blood. Once
again, we find that Jesus satisfies both the physical and the parallel
spiritual needs. Jesus provides rest
(Matthew 11:25-30). Jesus is the great
healer (Matthew 4:23-25). It is only the
blood of Jesus which provides true success in life not only on earth but more
importantly in the life to come (Ephesians 2:11-13).
Key Scriptures
~ “For the
life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the
altar to make atonement for your souls” (Leviticus 17:11a).
"Whatever
man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who
hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust; for it is the life of all flesh. Its
blood sustains its life. Therefore I
said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood’”
(Leviticus 17:13-14a).
“Just
as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you may eat them; the unclean and the
clean alike may eat them. Only be sure
that you do not eat the blood, for the
blood is the life” (Deuteronomy 12:22-24a).
“And
as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the
disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body’.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and
gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this
is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins. But I say to you, I will not
drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new
with you in My Father’s kingdom.’ And
when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew
26:26-30).
“Then
Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you
have no life in you. Whoever eats My
flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last
day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My
blood is drink indeed. He who eats My
flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live
because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven
— not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live
forever.’ These things He said in the
synagogue as He taught in Capernaum” (John 6:53-59).
“Therefore,
because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the
cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate
that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of
the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He
was already dead, they did not break His legs.
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his
testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may
believe. For these things were done that
the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall
look on Him whom they pierced’.” (John 19:31-37).
“But
now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by
the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus
Christ, to all and on all who believe.
For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that
is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as
a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His
righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that
were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His
righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith
in Jesus” (Romans 3:21-26).
“For
I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord
Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had
given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken
for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you
eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He
comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread
or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body
and blood of the Lord. But let a man
examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy
manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1
Corinthians 11:23-29).
Comment ~ You
may find the previous ALN posts helpful:
1) “Blood
Alphabet” (January 8, 2013), http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/2013/01/blood-alphabet.html
2) “7
Benefits of the Blood of Christ” (March 6, 2012), http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/search/label/blood?updated-max=2013-01-08T03:00:00-08:00&max-results=20&start=3&by-date=false
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
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