Jesus' Precious Blood ?
I have been told and read that we are saved Only through the blood of Jesus.
Through the blood, our sins are removed and we have eternal life, Through the
blood of Jesus, we are saved while works do not save.
Jesus' precious blood has removed the burden of works the Christians tell
me.
They exclusively use certain verses to support their views, for example;
"for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the
forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:28)
and
"So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh
of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;" John 6:53
Now the Question I have is, Did Jesus mean this metaphorically or literally?
Did Jesus really mean to drink his blood or was Jesus saying another one of
his many parables?
Did his "blood" figuratively mean {his works} or did it really mean his
blood?
If it is truly his blood as Christians suggest, why then when his Mother (as
Mothers know their son's better then anyone) was standing under the cross with
'others' did they not seek the blood.
When the group of Jesus's closest relatives were standing under the cross and
Jesus was bleeding on the cross (according to the Gospel), why did None of them
take the blood in a cup or even get the blood on them.
"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were
great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Luke 22:44
"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister,
Mary the [wife] of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene." John 19:25
Furthermore, his twelve disciples who understood Jesus's mission and purpose
more then anyone, would they abandon Jesus when the soldiers came to put him on
the cross?
"But all this has taken place, that the scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled." Matthew 26:56
If they understood Jesus to mean that the Only way to be saved is through the
blood of Jesus, wouldn't the disciples come back out of hiding when Jesus was on
the cross bleeding (according to the Gospel) so they can be saved through the
blood of Jesus.
The only way to get salvation according to Christians, if this opportunity to
be saved is in front of the disciples, why would they _forsake_ (abandon) Jesus
and remain in hiding?
If Jesus literally meant that the only way to be saved is to drink his blood
then why didn't any of those who knew him do such a thing.
Is there something that I am not understanding according to the Words of
Jesus? Or was the reference to blood, another parable (Jesus meant something
else besides blood).
"My *Works* is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins"
"Truly I say to you, who ever drinks my *works* will saved"
Above I have changed the word blood to works. Does that match other quotes by
Jesus?
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works
that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father."
John 14:12
There are other factors that prove that Jesus was speaking in parables and
did not literally order to drink his blood because the Bible forbids consumption
of blood.
"But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, shall ye not
eat." Genesis 9:4, also in Leviticus 3:17, Leviticus 7:26,27, Leviticus
17:10-14, Leviticus 19:26, Deuteronomy 12:16,23, Deuteronomy 15:23, Ezekiel
33:25, Acts 15:20,29, Acts 21:25.
Jesus would not order people to sin in order to be saved, right?
Furthermore, the Easton Bible Dictionary states that the word "blood" is used
metaphorically (to mean something else) on several occasions and could mean a
number of things
For Example (blood can also mean race (Acts 17:26), means to gain a great
victory (Ps. 58:10). Wine, from its red color, is called "the blood of the
grape" (Gen. 49:11),
The Nave's Topical Bible says the word blood can also figuratively mean;
oppression and cruelty, Habakkuk 2:12, Of destruction Ezekiel 35:6, Of guilt
Leviticus 20:9, 2 Samuel 1:16, Ezekiel 18:13, Of judgments, Ezekiel 6:38,
Revelation 16:6.
In conclusion, the word blood can mean a number of different things and according to the Laws of the Old Testament, Jesus as one Sent by God, would not actually want people to sin by breaking the commandments of "not drinking blood" as a means of being saved.