The Blood That Heals

In 2014, Ebola became a household word as it began to spread, and concerns grew that we might not be able to contain it. A missionary doctor from the United States, Kent Bradley, was one who contracted the virus at a time we knew very little about the virus and, against all odds, survived it. A quote from NBC News anchor Brian Williams about Dr. Kent Brantly said, “He’s one of the handful of Americans who’ve contracted Ebola and lived to talk about it; now he’s also able to do something about it. It’s his blood that is able to help patients, like the nurse in Dallas [Nina Pham].” The report goes on to say that Dr. Brantly has now donated nearly a gallon of his own blood to Ebola patients recovering in the United States, helping to ‘kick start’ their immune systems so that they have the best chance to fight off the Ebola virus and avoid certain death.
Dr. Brantly, a Christian aid worker in support of Samaritan’s Purse, has become a beautiful picture of the love of God for the world. Sin, like Ebola, is a killer. In fact, the mortality rate of sin is 100%. The difference is that there are far more than a handful who have contracted the sin gene. As it says in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Now consider Jesus. It was Jesus who gave his own blood, in order
that we might live. A gallon of blood in such a short period for the sake of others is impressive, but Christ laid down His own life for the sake of others. And Jesus did this, not only for His own countrymen, but even for those who hated Him and were in rebellion toward Him. Romans 5:6-
8 puts it this way “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And just as Dr. Brantly’s blood became so helpful only after he had overcome the Ebola virus himself, so the blood of Christ is able to atone for sin because Jesus became one of us and overcame sin Himself. Hebrews 4:15 says “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” As the only one to overcome sin, Jesus is now the only one whose blood can cure us from the consequences of sin.
The NBC News report went on to tell how thankful the Ebola patients were to Dr. Brantly. Ashoka Mukpo, an NBC freelance reporter who was one of the recipients of Dr. Brantly’s blood and plasma donations, is said to be on the road to recovery. Ahoka’s father was so touched by Dr. Brantly’s intervention that he responded by saying, “This act of kindness and generosity makes me believe in the goodness of humanity.” He was very thankful to the one who gave the blood that heals.
Remembering to be thankful to God will transform your life and your outlook. So, here’s a question I want to leave you with today…are you living as though you are thankful for the one who has given you the blood that heals? You were as helpless as and, even more, destined to die than any who have contracted the Ebola virus, and yet you have been given the gift of life. Ebola kills the body, but sin destroys the soul for all eternity. Take some cues from those who are so thankful for the blood of Dr. Brantly and live as one who is thankful for the blood of Christ…for His is truly the blood that heals.

-Pastor Troy Neeley