BLOOD has great significance in the Bible part 1

BLOOD has great significance in the Bible. Its meanings involve profound aspects of human life and God's desire to transform human existence. Blood is intimately associated with physical life. Blood and "life" or "living being" is closely associated. The Hebrews of Old Testament times were prohibited from eating blood. "Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water" (Deut. 12:23-24). For agricultural people, this command stressed the value of life. Though death was ever-present, life was sacred. Life was not to be regarded cheaply.

Even when the Old Testament speaks of animal sacrifice and atonement, the sacredness of life is emphasised. "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 for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11). Perhaps because an animal life was given up (and animals were a vital part of a person's property), this action taken before God indicated how each person is estranged from God. In giving what was of great value, the person offering the sacrifice showed that reconciliation with God involved life--the basic element of human existence. How giving up an animal life brought about redemption and reconciliation is not clear. What is clear is that atonement was costly. Only the New Testament could show how costly it was.

Flesh and Blood This phrase designates a human being. When Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus told Peter, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:17). No human agent informed Peter; the Father Himself disclosed this truth. When "flesh and blood" is used of Jesus, it designates His whole person: "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me and me in him" (John 6:56). The next verse shows that eating "blood and flesh" is powerful metaphorical language for sharing in the life that Jesus bestows--"so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me" (John 6:57). When Paul used the phrase "flesh and blood" in 1 Corinthians 15:50, he referred to sinful human existence: "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." The sinfulness of human beings disqualifies them as inheritors of God's kingdom. In Galatians 1:16, Paul used "flesh and blood" as a synonym for human beings with whom he did not consult after his conversion. Paul said his gospel came directly from God

In Ephesians 6:12, Paul portrayed Christians in conflict--their wrestling is "not against flesh and blood" but with higher, demonic powers, "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Of course, Christians do meet opposition to Christ and the gospel from other human beings, but behind all human opposition is a demonic-Satanic opposition. Human beings choose to identify with moral evil. We wrestle with the demonic leaders of moral revolt.

Finally, the phrase "flesh and blood" sometimes designates human nature apart from moral evil. Jesus, like other children of His people, was a partaker "of flesh and blood" (Heb. 2:14). Because He did so, He could die a unique, atoning death. He was fully human, yet more than human; He was both God and man.