Drinking Blood?

“Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it” (1 Chronicles 11:19).

It is odd think to think about drinking blood. It seems vampire-like, repulsive even. Yet Jesus himself said to his disciples, “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).

So how can we better understand, and better explain, the drinking of Christ’s blood?

In 1 Chronicles, the Chronicler records a scene about King David and his mighty men (who were super cool). There were three of the mighty men who were, let’s just say, extra mighty (e.g. Jashobeam killed 300 men at one time with only a spear). These guys seem more like Marvel characters than modern men.

In the description of David’s mighty men the Chronicler shares a story of these three, the mightiest of the mighty, going to David, who was in a cave surrounded by the Philistines, and David expressing that he longed for water from the well in Bethlehem. These three men burst through the wall of Philistines and went to the well in Bethlehem and brought Bethlehem well water back to David.

But David would not drink it.

In fact, he poured the water out on the ground.

The text says, “He poured it out to the Lord.”

My daughter Cora was appalled when I read this story to her. She said, “So those guys just risked their lives to get him the water he longed for and then he just poured it out?”

My kids are great; they say what I am often thinking but too prideful to admit.

David’s justification for not drinking the water is this: “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at risk of their lives they brought it.”

Do you see the principle? They risked their life to bring this water to David; therefore if he drinks it, he is drinking their very lives, the essence of their being, their blood. David “pouring it out before the Lord” was an offering.

David was offering the Lord the lifeblood of three mighty men, not wasting it. He could not receive what they had done for him at the risk of their own lives, he could only offer it to the Lord.

Now fast forward to Christ. Jesus is the water, the king, the mighty men, and lifeblood, and the offering to the Lord. Jesus is born in the city of David, Bethlehem, and he is the Living Water. Jesus is the long awaited King who will establish a new kingdom.

Jesus gave his life to not just break through the wall of the enemy to save us, but to defeat the enemy. Jesus offers himself to the Father as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus didn’t just risk his life, he gave his life; therefore if you drink the water that Jesus brings to you, himself, you are drinking his blood. Christ poured out his own blood to His Father and then instead of offering it to his followers, he commands them to drink it.

Unbelievable grace.

Like my kids, I could say, “So wait a minute, Jesus gives his life for me, a life that should be only for God because he is perfect, and instead of Christ saying, ‘Don’t believe in me until you are worthy,’ he says, ‘Drink my blood.’” Or essentially, God wants you to receive what I have done for you.

And it is only if we receive what Christ as has done for us that we will have life. Through his blood we have a life that brings us into the light and into fellowship with one another.

And this “blood” that we have received is powerful!

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:7

Don’t be fooled, friend. The greatest enemy has already been defeated. That thirst for which you and I most long for has already been quenched.

To drink the lifeblood of Christ is to receive what He has done for you.

Persevere,
Joey Turner
Pastor of Student Ministry