Power in the Blood

February 6, 2025

Well here’s a rather gruesome concept of the Gospel in this “ol’- timey” Gospel song and one that deserves a cleaning up in our Human understanding…Alan Jackson — There Is Power In The Blood…

Before I get into what the Bible says and what those verses indicate, please allow me to delve into the facts of blood confirmed by the Sciences and Biology,and Medical research communities -

What is blood?

Blood is the life-maintaining fluid that flows through the body’s blood vessels:

• Arteries
• Veins
• Capillaries

What is the function of blood?

Blood carries the following to the body tissues:

• Nourishment
• Electrolytes
• Hormones
• Vitamins
• Antibodies
• Heat
• Oxygen

Blood carries the following away from the body tissues:

• Waste matter
• Carbon dioxide

White blood cells:

• Help heal wounds. They do this by fighting infection, and also by taking in matter. This includes dead cells, tissue debris, and old red blood cells.
• Are our protection from foreign bodies that enter the blood, such as allergens.
• Help to protect against changed (mutated) cells, such as cancer.

https\\www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/facts-about-blood

One more thing: Our DNA is also in our blood — specifically, our white blood cells.

From that sourced list can anyone reasonably deny that our life is in our blood?

Well now, in the Old Testament of the Bible is this verse:

“For the life of a creature is in the blood,…” — Leviticus 17:11(a), New International Version.

Don’t these two confirm and attest to the verity of each other?

Next, in this second part of the verse, the Bible becomes more reasonable and sensible to me:

“…and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” — Leviticus 17:11(b), ibid.

In the same verse is the concept contained in that “ol’-timey” song, “Power in the Blood.” This concept is the emphasis in the chorus, and beyond that,it claims the life changing power of Jesus shedding His blood on the cross… His blood instead of ours… His life in exchange for ours.

This still seems a hard thing to accept, but in comparison, we do know gravity exists and accept it as a “given,” and yet, it cannot be seen and nobody knows how or why it works! It simply works, and that is that.

Right?

The Bible, from God’s promise to Eve in the Garden of Eden and throughout the Biblical stories, from Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac, from the Levitical duties of the priests of sacrificing the blood of animals, they all foreshadow this New Testament verse:

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” — John 3:14–17, NIV.

Just as gravity works, Jesus’ blood works. It simply works ,and that is that.

“Some {religious leaders} demand {otherworldly} signs and {scholarly types} look for {worldly} wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to {some} and foolishness to {others}, but to those whom God has {invited}, both {believing} and {skeptical}, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” — 1 Corinthians 1:22–25 {with my edits as paraphrasing for understanding the practical application of these verses}.

I read somewhere an opinion that said that when Adam and Eve were sent away from the Garden, God had to shed the blood of animals to make clothing for them for their protection — a sign of His continuing concern for them which would also include all Mankind. I think it is true and fits neatly into the ideas that I am writing.

Still and all, to wrap this essay up: Many cannot accept Jesus’ blood sacrifice because it is too gruesome and doesn’t make any sense to them. Then, perhaps they might be one of those folks who only see the Gospel of Jesus through the lens of worldly wisdom — perhaps considering it with their “common sense.” Perhaps, they might fit better into the group that wants to see proof beforehand — some kind of powerful magic show.

People believe in all kinds of things — even things they;ve never seen and maybe only read about, but no matter how they believe, they still believe…

We cannot see love… but we still believe in it, and why? Often, it makes no sense… but we still pursue it. We experience it; we desire it. We know instinctively it exists. On occasion, we have even felt its tingling touch. We have definitely seen the proof in real lives.

Yes. We can neither see it, taste it, or touch it.

We still pursue it.

Maybe the love of God is not obvious to you…

But it is still there.

Patty and I have seen it, tasted it, and definitely been touched by it.

Our suggestion is you start looking a little bit harder for God.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” — Psalm 34:8, NIV.