Can't See It- April 16, 2011
June 5, 2011
Dear Sam,
Here it is, Lent, and after a life-time in the church I still don't understand the “blood of Jesus”.
When I used to ask, no one said anything that made sense to me. I'm sick of being in the dark. If someone can't explain it to me, I might just decide to give up the whole Christian “be saved” stuff.
Can't see it
Dear Can't see,
Jesus told Nicodemus that if he couldn't understand earthly things, he wouldn't understand heavenly things. Jesus always gave examples from farmers, seeds, fishermen. So our knowledge of physical, earthly blood is a good and biblical place to start. Blood carries nutrients, antibodies, messages to all the parts of the body. When your blood is anemic or sick, you can get a blood transfusion. Someone else's healthy blood is poured into you in order to bring strength and healing. It is interesting that the pole on which the bag of blood is hung is shaped like a cross, and the needle is often inserted into the wrist, the same place that the nails were driven in to hold Jesus on the cross. So the new blood infuses into your body, teaching your white blood cells how to identify the enemy and fight disease, feeding the cells and organs that had been starving for nourishment so that they can again become strong and do their job.
Here are two instances of how the blood of Jesus might be necessary. 1) If your soul (your mind, emotion and will) doesn't know how to fight against life-destroying attitudes; or 2) if you didn't get the love (nutrient) you needed when you were a child and have ended up weak and ignorant about how to love others. A “blood transfusion” would be able to heal and transform these areas.
Spiritual things are parallel to earthly things, which is why Jesus told parables and used real-life scenarios when he was teaching about heavenly realities. Use this very simple discussion of blood to think about what areas of your life might need some new energy, some information that is more healthy and accurate, some help from a source outside yourself. Then think of what Jesus said, how he related, and what he has promised those who are willing to hook up with him and feed off of his love and teachings. Pay attention to the fact that the new blood has to actually enter into you. Knowing the blood donor is not enough. You are saved by the relationship of being dependent-on-his-blood. When you understand this, not just academically, but experiencially, you will be saved from illness unto death. Blessed Lent!
|
