Every year I endure the same trauma at my doctor’s office—the drawing of blood.
Why, traumatic? The answer lies in the words of a lab tech during one visit. “Your veins are itty bitty, Mrs. Friday.” Gee…yay for me.
And to add more apprehension, the veins on my arms refuse to come out of hiding. Like a game of hide-and-seek, lab techs armed with needles make several attempts to seek an appropriate candidate—but to no avail. Although I’m already bruised and lightheaded.
Then, the lab employee enlists support from other techs, and sure-fire methods to raise a vein. Such as trying to warm up the vein with heat packs or squeezing a round object with my hand. Any success, now? Nope.
Finally, one brave and innovative gal not only used a butterfly needle—the smallest option—but she also decided to use a visible vein on the top of my hand. She expressed one concern. This particular vein may not yield enough blood.
Drum roll, please. It worked! Hooray!
Ever since that day, I share my tiny-veins-and-hard-to-get-blood story with my lab person. So I kindly ask for a butterfly needle and to stick the vein in my hand. This makes my experience a little more pleasant.
It amazes me what our blood shows about us: type, heart-health, overall health, and often diagnoses a medical condition, disease, or illness. Life is in the blood.
Life in the Blood
Look at what the Lord told Moses:
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, 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 NIV
God set up the sacrificial system and Levitical priests. Because only the shedding of blood made atonement for sins. These sacrifices pointed to the coming of Jesus as the ultimate High Priest and final sacrifice for sins as noted in Hebrews.
“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12 NIV
“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:11-12 NIV
Power in the Blood
Maybe like me, you remember singing about this power. The bloodshed of Jesus:
- canceled our sin debt
- provided salvation
- purchased eternal life
- reconciled us to God
- recovered everything the enemy stole from us
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22 NIV
Plead the Blood
But let’s not forget our lives right now in the present. Mentors, teachers, and pastors encourage us to plead the blood of Jesus. Or to bring it between us and the enemy. Or as a covering for spiritual warfare in our lives including difficult circumstances and people.
The blood that flowed through Immanuel’s veins spilled on a cross. It cleanses our sins and gives us new life.
It redeems us, sets us free, and secures our adoption into God’s family.
Our hearts need triple bypass by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; a transfusion with the blood that never loses its power!
Oh the saving power of the blood!
Your turn. Tell us in the comments if your veins are easily accessible. Or what the bloodshed of Jesus means to you.
Read more about the blood here: 3 Letters to Honor our Fallen Heroes
Featured Photo by M_K Photography on Unsplash/Top Photo by Vaishakh pillai on Unsplash/Middle Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash/Bottom Photo by Yannick Pulver on Unsplash
