Most of us would be touched if some one volunteered to donate blood so that we might live.
In a spiritual sense, Jesus donated His blood for each of us. Not one of the founders of the world’s other religions ever offered his blood for his followers.
Jesus’ blood reaches men in every rank, every class, every tribe, and every tongue (Hebrews 2:9–10; Revelation 5:9; cf. John 1:29; 12:32; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Timothy 2:4, 6). He embraces every race (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15–16; Galatians 3:28). In the New Testament, we see people of all nations and circumstances responding to His love (Ethiopian, Acts 8; Jews, Acts 2; Gentiles, Acts 10; Europeans, Acts 16; Lepers, Luke 17). God loves everyone. He is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9).
Have you ever given blood? Let us contrast our blood donations with His.
Our Pint Is a Donation; Jesus’ Gift Was a Sacrifice
After we give blood, we enjoy a snack and return to normal activities. After He gave blood, Jesus died. “Jesus cried with a loud voice, and breathed His last” (Mark 15:37). We give what we can easily spare; Christ gave His very life’s blood. Man has sinned away his right to live: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Since all have sinned (Romans 3:23), and sin demands the death of the sinner (Ezekiel 18:4), how can any one be saved? The answer: Jesus died for us. “This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).
Our Donation Is In Comfortable and Sterile Conditions; His Was On a Cross
In your mind, contrast the two scenes: First, a patient in a nice, comfortable chair 1 www.housetohouse.com in an air-conditioned building with the best of equipment; then Jesus on that cross, nearly naked, beaten, and bleeding while sinful men shout for Him to die. Our blood comes out of our arm via a sterile needle; Jesus’ blood came out of His body via thorns, whip, and nails.
After Pilate ordered Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:26), Roman soldiers viciously carried it out (Luke 23:33). It was customary for the criminal to carry the cross to the crucifixion site, so Jesus began carrying His to Golgotha (John 19:17). Un der its weight, and in His weakened condition, apparently His strength gave out en route (Luke 23:26). Quite a contrast from the medical clinic, is it not?
Our Donation Is Quick and Relatively Easy; His Was Drawn Out And Painful
Actual blood donation today takes about ten minutes. It took Jesus six hours (Mark 15:25, 34). The entire process for us, from the time we sign in to the time we leave, takes maybe an hour. For Him, the process took twenty-one hours; it began at 6:00 p.m. Thursday and did not end until 3:00 p.m. on Friday.
Our Pint Will Be Expensive For The Recipient; Christ’s Blood Is Free To All
A pint of blood costs a few hundred dol lars, but it could cost ten times that much depending on how much typing and testing is done on it. On the other hand, you will not need to bring your checkbook to come to Jesus. Salvation is a “gift” (Ro 2 • Without spot; Without stain, in a mor al sense (cf. 1 Timothy 6:14; James 1:27; 2 Peter 3:14). • Incorruptible: Corruptible seed results in decay and death; incorruptible seed leads to eternal life. mans 6:23; John 4:10); yes, a “free gift” (Romans 5:15–18). We are justified freely (Romans 3:24). The water of life is freely given (Revelation 22:17). The Spirit tells us of the things that are “freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). All of us can agree: “Thanks be to God for His in describable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Our Donation Goes Out Of Date After Forty-Two Days; Christ’s Blood Is Eternally Fresh
U.S. blood centers often have difficulty maintaining even a three-day supply for routine transfusion demands. Christ’s blood’s life-giving power is as strong to day as it was when it was given on the cross. We may give many times, but Jesus could give only once. It will never need to be replenished. It will remain effective until the end of time.
Our Blood May Be Rejected Due To Disease, Contagion, Or Corruption; Jesus’ Blood Is Pure And Sinless
Thirteen tests (eleven for infectious dis eases) are performed on each unit of donated blood. Peter made four references to the purity of Christ and His gospel in one passage (1 Peter 1:18–23):
- Precious: Of much worth; that which is costly. Something that is flawed would not be precious.
- Without blemish: Absence of physical defect (Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 22:20– 21; cf. Hebrews 9:14). It was faultless, as the sacrificial lamb had to be.
- Without spot; Without stain, in a moral sense (cf. 1 Timothy 6:14; James 1:27; 2 Peter 3:14).
- Incorruptible: Corruptible seed results in decay and death; incorruptible seed leads to eternal life.
One Pint Of Your Blood Can Save Up To Three Lives; One Drop Of The Blood Of Christ Can Save The World (John 3:16)
Only thirty-seven percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, but only about ten percent do so annually. The number one reason blood donors say they give is because they “want to help others.” That is why Jesus came to make His donation (Luke 19:10).
There is no substitute for blood. Mod ern science has done much in the fields of medicine and hygiene, plastic surgery, and synthetic replacements. If a leg is lost, an artificial one is made; if a nose is bro ken or the face burned, plastic surgery is performed; if a lung collapses, it can be restored. Even the heart can be replaced, but no synthetic blood has yet been manufactured, nor is there any substance that will substitute for it.
The precious nature of blood is clear in the Old and New Testaments. Blood sacrifices were required for the forgiveness of sin. The blood sacrifices of animals never dealt with the sin problem permanently. That took the blood of Jesus. John declares, “the blood of Jesus . . . cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Jesus made a blood donation for you. Will you accept it?
