Mysterious allegorical verses concerning blood are found throughout the New Testament. These phrases include Jesus “washing us from our sins in His own blood” (Rev. 1:5), the saints “washing their robes and making them white in the Blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14), and Jesus returning “clothed with a vesture dipped in blood” (Rev. 19:13).
Such concepts may be difficult to grasp, but they are not unusual when one considers there are 460 specific references to blood in the Bible. The word altar, which means “to slaughter,” is used over 400 times and almost always refers to animal sacrifice. But once blood is shed it is of no practical value to anyone. What God honors is the obedience attached to blood sacrifices (Ps. 40:6-8). When God first began to deliver the Israelites from their enemies, He taught them that only behind doors stained with lamb’s blood were they truly safe (Ex. 12:13). In Jesus’ day, hundreds of thousands of lambs were slaughtered during the annual season of Passover. When these factors are considered it becomes easier to understand why Jesus chose to be called The Lamb of God (Jn. 1:36).
To view blood in an allegorical sense, fast-forward to the 21st century. The purpose of blood in the human body is to maintain the constancy of its internal environment. We have blood work done because almost every aspect of health can be determined from such testing. A good blood count keeps the body in perfect harmony. Blood transports oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body and carries away waste products. In a similar way, Jesus’ blood carries life to every part of His Body, the Church, and protects her from all that is harmful.
Healthy blood is vital to good health and is a wondrous enigma. Every human heart beats 100,000 times each day. The basic function of blood is to constantly produce energy. You could not breathe without good blood, for it brings oxygen to every part of your body. All proteins, vitamins, and minerals are transported via the bloodstream. Almost ten percent of your body weight is blood. If you donate a pint of blood, your body will replace it all within a few weeks. Your blood produces more than 200 billion red cells every day. One cubic millimeter of blood contains five million red cells and seven thousand white cells. Ten thousand white blood cells can fit on the head of a pin. Blood cells have built-in sensors that help regulate body temperature and maintain healthy blood at a perfect 98.6 degrees.
Humans have various blood types, such as A, B, O, AB, etc. Some are not compatible with others and preclude transfusions when blood is needed. But Jesus blood is compatible with every human on earth. When His blood is transfused into your life, spiritual harmony results. Peter calls Jesus’ blood precious. The term means “valuable, honorable, very costly, and of great value” (I Pet. 1:19). Blood banks cannot store blood for more than a few weeks, but the blood of Jesus avails forever. His shed blood is essential for salvation (Rom. 3:24). It is the basis for spiritual cleansing (I Jn. 1:7). It gives His people complete victory over Satan (Rev. 12:11).