Celebrating Blood

How often have you celebrated bloodshed? It's not something that would make the average person rejoice, especially those with any sort of a conscience. We think of bloodshed as something horrible. Just a few stories of persecution will tell us that bloodshed has caused untold tears for our brothers and sisters. We may even find ourselves wanting revenge against those who have spilled the blood of our family in Christ.

The fact is everyone who knows Christ celebrates bloodshed. We sing about it, write about it, talk about it and thank God for it. In fact, Christ instituted a practice to celebrate bloodshed. As we move through our Good Friday services, most of us at some point celebrate the blood of Jesus Christ through communion. We can never comprehend the crushing burden of our sin as Jesus poured out His life for us. We can, however, praise the spotless Lamb of God Who alone is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise! (Rev. 5:12)

We could stop there. Christ doesn't. He looks on the persecutor with our family's blood dripping from his hands and loves him. He points to the cross and calls people like Saul to turn to Him in repentance—people who purposefully hurt God’s children. He calls us to take up our own crosses and follow Him to love even the worst of sinners. Will our blood be shed in the process? Perhaps. Will we rejoice with people from every tribe, tongue and nation? Absolutely!

"...you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18,19

Brothers and sisters, we celebrate blood; the blood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. How can we do anything but share with persecutors the same grace that has freed us from our own sin?