The Blood of Jesus
Doctors learn a lot about a person’s family history from the genetic markers that appear in a blood sample. In layman’s terms, our blood carries genetic markers of all sorts. So as we think about the blood of Christ, we have to be reminded of the humanity of Jesus.
He was born in a stable as the son of Mary. He was in her womb—nourished by her very flesh and blood. As only a mother can experience, His life and Mary’s life were intertwined throughout that entire pregnancy.
To be incarnate means that Jesus had real flesh. It might be right to say that God the Father fashioned Jesus’ humanity from Mary’s genetic traits. That can leave us with lots of fun questions:
- Did Jesus have Mary’s eyes?
- Did He have feet like those of David or Bathsheba?
- Was His stature like Abraham’s or Uzziah’s?
Earlier this summer at the Renovaré Conference in San Antonio, Robert Gelinas reminded me about the strange relatives that appear in the ancestry of Jesus. We are often embarrassed by crazy uncles or cousins, and to think we are related to them!
Jesus was related by blood to an interesting lot of people: Tamar, Ruth, and Manasseh to name three. However you want to think about—Jesus was like us in every way. He had blood coursing in his veins. He picked up all the physical genetic dispositions and frailties that come with a family tree.
For our purposes though as we consider his humanity, we have to be struck by his willingness to choose us. Our minds give us the power to make choices, and Jesus chose to love us and to die in our place. All we can do is give thanks that Jesus would give himself for us.
On the other hand, the divinity of Jesus means that His blood was different from ours. He was more than the son of Mary; He embodies holiness and purity and truth. Just as the tabernacle symbolized God’s presence and power on the earth in a real way, the body of Jesus became a temple. The gospel of John indicates the radiance that is God’s glory appeared fully in Jesus. As He shed His blood, the veil that divided God and man was torn asunder.
His resurrection and exaltation to the right hand of the Father has changed everything. Evil and death do not have the last word. By the power of the Spirit, we can be free and holy lives—as Christ lives in us today.
The blood of Jesus makes all of this possible and shows us the real possiblities.
