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When I was just a boy, if I had a good friend that I wanted as a blood brother I practiced this: “Blood brother can refer to one of two things: a male-related by birth, or two or more men not related by birth who have sworn loyalty to each other. This is in modern times usually done in a ceremony, known as a blood oath, where each person makes a small cut, usually on a finger, hand or the forearm, and then the two cuts are pressed together and bound, the idea being that each person's blood now flows in the other participant's veins. The act may carry risk due to blood-borne diseases. The process usually provides a participant with a heightened symbolic sense of attachment with another participant.” BLOOD (דָּם, dam; αἷμα, haima). In the Bible, blood functions as a symbol of life and death and serves as a sacred substance in sacrificial rituals for purification, consecration, and atonement. One of the 1st verses I memorized after I met Jesus was from the Thompson Chain Reference Bible, I think it was, was Leviticus 17:11 KJV. Or it could have been from Bible Memory Association which is now ScriptureMemory.com. BLOOD symbolizes Life (Lev. 17:11; Deut. 12:23). See Mr. Maas above who was talking about the fact that the biblical prohibition against eating blood was tied to its association with life and the recognition that it represented the essence (nephesh) of a living being (Gen 9:4; Lev 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-11; Deut 12:23). And see his reference to BLOOD —As a food, prohibited in Gen. 9:4, where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deut. 12:23; Lev. 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-14. But BLOOD in the Bible also symbolizes Vengeance (Gen. 4:10--The first reference in the Old Testament to blood (Gen 4:10) is figurative, but highly illustrative of the reverential fear manifested upon the shedding of blood and the first teaching regarding it.; Rev. 6:10), --speaking of human blood, the murderer was to be punished (Gen. 9:5). The blood of the murdered “crieth for vengeance” (Gen. 4:10). BLOOD, too, symbolized Guilt/Accountability (Hands/Head Stained) Joshua 2:19; Matt. 23:35; Luke 11:50. Also, BLOOD symbolized Impending Judgment (Exod. 12:7, 13, 22-23). The middle verse here definitely was in the Thompson Chain Reference Bible as a good verse to memorize from Exodus. (Exodus 12:13). Further, BLOOD symbolized Agony in one place in the Bible (Luke 22:44), a verse from Bible Memory Association, now Scripture Memory Fellowship or specifically, https://scripturememory.com. And BLOOD (of Christ) was a symbol of Receiving Eternal Life (Drinking) (John 6:53-56). In the Old Testament "blood" was also used to signify the juice of grapes, the most natural substitute for the drinking of blood would be the use of wine. Jesus takes advantage of this, and introduces the beautiful and significant custom (Mt 26:28) of drinking wine and eating bread as symbolic of the primitive intertransfusion of blood and flesh in a pledge of eternal friendship (compare Ex 24:6-7; Jn 6:53-56). This is the climactic observance of blood rites recorded in the Bible. Don't you just love "The Sufficient Blood"? His blood is so sufficient He tells us in His word On the mercy seat in heaven It was put there by our Lord. It stops the accuser of the brethren As he walks before the throne Our God just points to the blood And Satan knows He cares for His own. It’s sufficient for any situation To nourish, to cleanse, and keep. Oh, magnify your name my Lord My soul with rapture leaps. Can my sins though oh so many Make this blood of no avail Once I’ve named the name of Jesus In my heart, I cannot fail. His word has proclaimed it The work begun in me Will someday be completed When His dear face I see. And when I dwell in heaven As the ages roll along Oh, that precious blood of Jesus Will be my victory song.
Blood symbolizes life, as indicated by multiple passages (such as Genesis 9:4-6, Leviticus 3:17, Leviticus 7:26-27, Leviticus 17:10-14, and Deuteronomy 12:23) that state that the life of an organism (whether of humans or animals) is in its blood. This was the basis for the death penalty imposed against a person who maliciously shed the blood of another human being by taking the person's life. It was also the reason that the dietary laws that God gave to Israel required that an animal's blood was to be drained from it before it was consumed for food, so that the blood would not be ingested.
To understand blood one has to understand passover. The Lord through Moses spoke that every Israelite should sacrifice the lamb and put the blood of the lamb on the door. Then they would be spared from plague, the death of all first born humans and animals. Jesus declared that no one has to sacrifice the lamb anymore, as he is that lamb and blood now. So, when you have sinned and want to get in a relationship with the lord again, you can do so by remembering Jesus and performing duties as an act of service to the lord.
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