For us all, as we approach Holy Cross Day on 14th September...The Blood of Christ
Why the Blood of Jesus Christ? Why does the Church have devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord? This practice disturbs some 'modern' persons, why? What is the seeming preoccupation of orthodox Christianity with 'the Blood'? What does Blood represent, and why is it so important in reference to Our Lord Jesus Christ?
The Blood of Christ refers to Atonement = ‘At-one-ment’ with God, reconciliation, re-communion, re-membering, re-union, restoration to God.
The Blood of Christ in the Old Testament (typology)
Genesis 9.4, Exodus 24.6-8, Leviticus 17.11, 16.14-19
The Levitical sacrifice and priesthood arose after the fall of Israel in worshipping the golden calf -- the use of the blood of a victim, animal sacrifice, signified that the offerer must be himself be consecrated and sacrificed with the oblation of the thing sacrificed. The sacrifice of one’s own life is symbolised by the blood. The sinner’s guilt was transferred to an animal, the ‘scapegoat.’ Blood is offered to God because it is atonement, propitiation for sin, as the blood contains the ‘soul’ or ‘life.’ Leviticus 17.11, 6.30, 8.15, 16.27
Atonement is the function of blood -- it belongs to the sin-offering, sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Rabbinical teaching is that of Hebrews 9.22 -- ‘there is no atonement, no forgiveness, without the shedding of blood.’ The purification of the altar, temple, vessels and people was achieved through the application of blood, hence, communication is re-established between God and His people. Blood is a medium of life, refreshing sanctity, expelling impurity, restoring communion and relationship between God and Israel. Blood was atoning, for it was the vehicle of life. The profane use of blood was strictly forbidden, as it was used only for sacrifice: all blood must be removed from flesh before eating it. The sole purpose of blood was its offering for establishing communion with God. ‘The life of the flesh is in the blood.’ Animal blood is symbolic of man’s own life-blood, which could not be shed. Blood was a type, an image, a symbol of a communion to be regained, given again, by God.
The Blood of Christ in the New Testament (fulfilment)
Hebrews 9.6-28, Romans 3.24-25, Romans 5.9, Ephesians 1.7
Ephesians 2.13,16, Colossians 1.14,20, Hebrews 9.12-14,
Hebrews 10.19-20, 12.24, 1 John 1.7, 5.6-8, Revelation 1.5-6, 5.9, 7.14, 12.11
‘The New Testament in my Blood’ - Our Lord refers to Exodus 24.3-8, the Mosaic Covenant sealed by blood. Our Lord’s death inaugurates a new covenant relationship between God and His people, by expiation and remission of sins. Our Lord bases His teaching on Jeremiah 31. The institution of the Eucharist is the basis of His Redemptive Work. The Eucharist interprets His Death. Communion is established, relayed, by the Blood of the Messiah. ‘In’ His Blood the Covenant is made. Isaiah 53, self-sacrifice, self-offering, self-donation, perfect complete Self-Oblation, an all-sufficient action, an Offering of the perfect LIFE to God, symbolised by Our Lord’s Blood. The Blood of Christ is the Sacrifice of a perfect filial life, of total consecration, obedience, service. Communion with the One Perfect Life of Sacrifice, Jesus Christ Himself, is God’s means of communion with Him; God’s design and plan, is accomplished through the pouring out of Christ’s Blood, which is divine Life. Jesus Christ is the principle of divine life for the believer - ‘one must eat my flesh and drink my blood’ (Saint John 6). Atonement comes by the perfect atoning work of Christ conveyed to man by virtue of the Eucharistic Chalice.
Christ’s Blood is the ransom for man, the ransom-price that purchases mankind for God -- it consecrates saints, martyrs and priests: Christ’s Blood is adored as the cost of His sacrifice, the sign of his love, the effect of his power. The Blood of Christ manifests His eternal Priesthood, His unique mediatorship, advocacy, intercession, pleading, the presenting of His self-offering. Christ’s Blood is the medium and key, the link and culminating point of Atonement of God. The Blood pleads perfect forgiveness. The Blood represents the High Priest, the perfect Life, the God-Man, the only satisfaction for sin, Jesus Christ.
The Blood of Christ in the Book of Common Prayer:
Te Deum: ‘We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood...’ (10)
For those to be ordained:
‘Almighty God...who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear Son...’ (38)
‘Almighty God...who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear Son...’ (38)
For increase of vocations:
‘O Almighty God, look mercifully upon the world which thou hast redeemed by the blood of thy dear Son...’ (39)
‘O Almighty God, look mercifully upon the world which thou hast redeemed by the blood of thy dear Son...’ (39)
The Litany:
‘Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious Blood...’ (54)
The Holy Eucharist:
St Matthew 26.28, St Mark 14.24, St Luke 22.20, St John 6.53-56,
St John 19.34, I Corinthians 10.16, 11.25
We receive the Blood of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. The same Blood shed on the Cross is given to us under the form and species of wine. The Real Presence of His Blood, and making-present of His Sacrifice, is the Atonement pleaded upon the Altar, in the anamnesis of Christ’s Oblation. Atonement and Eucharist are one, the same reality, one is heavenly, the other sacramental. The doctrine of the Prayer Book is ‘Blood-shedding doctrine.’ The Atonement is accomplished by the Blood and Death of Christ, mystically presented before the Father in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. Christ’s Blood is our spiritual nourishment in the Holy Mysteries. The Blood of Christ is uniquely applied to us in the Eucharist, as taught in the Prayer Book: 'grant that through faith in his Blood we may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of His passion.'
The ecclesiology of the Prayer Book teaches that the Holy Catholic Church is a ‘Blood-bought Church,’ a Church purchased by the Sacrifice of Christ, the shedding of His Blood: Acts 20.28
‘This is my Blood of the New Testament’ (Canon, 80)
‘may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood' (Canon, 80)
‘and through faith in his Blood’ (Canon, 80)
‘may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood' (Canon, 80)
‘grant us...to drink his Blood’ (Humble Access, 82)
‘our souls washed through his most precious Blood’ (Humble Access, 82)
‘The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee,’ (Communion, 83)
‘spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood’ (Thanksgiving 83)
‘Holy Communion of the Body and Blood’ (Exhortation, 85)
‘the innumerable benefits which by his blood-shedding... (Exhortation, 85)
‘Almighty Father, whose dear Son...did institute the Sacrament of His Body and Blood...’ (Maundy Thursday, 152)
Holy Baptism:
Jesus Christ...did shed out of his most precious side both water and Blood...’ (Blessing of the Water, 279 -- St John Chrysostom's teaching on the two Dominical Sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist, St John 19.34)
The Catechism:
Q & A: ‘The inward part is the Body and Blood of Christ’ (293)
Q & A: ‘refreshing of our souls by the Body and Blood of Christ’ (293)
‘Grant O Father, that when we receive... the Blood of Christ’ (294)
The Visitation of the Sick:
‘O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood, hast redeemed us; Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.’ (313)
For the dying:
‘Wash it [the soul], we pray thee, in the Blood of that immaculate Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world.’ (317)
Ordering of Priests:
‘For they are the sheep of Christ...for which he shed his blood’ (540)
Consecration of Bishops:
‘The Church of Christ which he hath purchased with no less price than the effusion of his own blood’ (554)
Consecration of a Church:
‘Grant O Lord that whosoever shall receive in this place the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ’ (565)
In the 1940 Hymnal:
Hymnal 190 - ‘Let thy Blood in mercy poured.’
Let thy Blood in mercy poured, Let thy gracious Body broken,
Be to me, O gracious Lord, of thy boundless love the token.
Thou didst give thyself for me, Now I give myself to thee.
Almighty and everlasting God who didst ordain that thine only begotten Son should be the Redeemer of the world and hast vouchsafed to accept his Blood as the propitiation for our sins: mercifully grant that we who here rejoice to honour that Blood, the price of our salvation; may be defended by its power in this present world, and rejoice in the everlasting fruits thereof in the world to come. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
‘Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious Blood...’ (54)
The Holy Eucharist:
St Matthew 26.28, St Mark 14.24, St Luke 22.20, St John 6.53-56,
St John 19.34, I Corinthians 10.16, 11.25
We receive the Blood of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. The same Blood shed on the Cross is given to us under the form and species of wine. The Real Presence of His Blood, and making-present of His Sacrifice, is the Atonement pleaded upon the Altar, in the anamnesis of Christ’s Oblation. Atonement and Eucharist are one, the same reality, one is heavenly, the other sacramental. The doctrine of the Prayer Book is ‘Blood-shedding doctrine.’ The Atonement is accomplished by the Blood and Death of Christ, mystically presented before the Father in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. Christ’s Blood is our spiritual nourishment in the Holy Mysteries. The Blood of Christ is uniquely applied to us in the Eucharist, as taught in the Prayer Book: 'grant that through faith in his Blood we may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of His passion.'
The ecclesiology of the Prayer Book teaches that the Holy Catholic Church is a ‘Blood-bought Church,’ a Church purchased by the Sacrifice of Christ, the shedding of His Blood: Acts 20.28
‘This is my Blood of the New Testament’ (Canon, 80)
‘may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood' (Canon, 80)
‘and through faith in his Blood’ (Canon, 80)
‘may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood' (Canon, 80)
‘grant us...to drink his Blood’ (Humble Access, 82)
‘our souls washed through his most precious Blood’ (Humble Access, 82)
‘The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee,’ (Communion, 83)
‘spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood’ (Thanksgiving 83)
‘Holy Communion of the Body and Blood’ (Exhortation, 85)
‘the innumerable benefits which by his blood-shedding... (Exhortation, 85)
‘Almighty Father, whose dear Son...did institute the Sacrament of His Body and Blood...’ (Maundy Thursday, 152)
Holy Baptism:
Jesus Christ...did shed out of his most precious side both water and Blood...’ (Blessing of the Water, 279 -- St John Chrysostom's teaching on the two Dominical Sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist, St John 19.34)
The Catechism:
Q & A: ‘The inward part is the Body and Blood of Christ’ (293)
Q & A: ‘refreshing of our souls by the Body and Blood of Christ’ (293)
‘Grant O Father, that when we receive... the Blood of Christ’ (294)
The Visitation of the Sick:
‘O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood, hast redeemed us; Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.’ (313)
For the dying:
‘Wash it [the soul], we pray thee, in the Blood of that immaculate Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world.’ (317)
Ordering of Priests:
‘For they are the sheep of Christ...for which he shed his blood’ (540)
Consecration of Bishops:
‘The Church of Christ which he hath purchased with no less price than the effusion of his own blood’ (554)
Consecration of a Church:
‘Grant O Lord that whosoever shall receive in this place the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ’ (565)
In the 1940 Hymnal:
Hymnal 190 - ‘Let thy Blood in mercy poured.’
Let thy Blood in mercy poured, Let thy gracious Body broken,
Be to me, O gracious Lord, of thy boundless love the token.
Thou didst give thyself for me, Now I give myself to thee.
Almighty and everlasting God who didst ordain that thine only begotten Son should be the Redeemer of the world and hast vouchsafed to accept his Blood as the propitiation for our sins: mercifully grant that we who here rejoice to honour that Blood, the price of our salvation; may be defended by its power in this present world, and rejoice in the everlasting fruits thereof in the world to come. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
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