Healing Blood, Dangerous Blood, Beautiful Blood

"What's this one?" I asked, as I stooped to pluck a small white flower.   We had moved into a new home and a lady from our church was pointing out different flowers to me.  I'm terrible at gardening and trying to remember all the names is always difficult.  As I pulled on the stem and root, a reddish substance came off on my hand.

"That's bloodroot,” my friend explained.  “It always blooms in the spring around Easter and has reddish orange roots that twist and wind their way underground.  The flower opens with the light of day and closes as night falls.   If you break open the stem, a bloodlike fluid oozes out... hence the name bloodroot."

Bloodroot.  I thought it appropriate that it blooms during the Easter season.  It is a reminder of the sacrifice made for us.

Healing Blood.  Bloodroot has multiple healing powers and has been used for bronchitis, extreme sore throats, and skin disorders.  Christ's death and bleeding on the cross, and His resurrection brings healing to us.  His oozing wounds, dripped blood for my sins.

Isaiah 53:5 ~

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

    and by his wounds we are healed.

Dangerous Blood.  You have to be cautious when using bloodroot. Taken in too high dosages or used without proper supervision can be extremely dangerous and can cause death. 

The shedding of Christ's blood is a dangerous issue because it involves change.  When we accept Him, he expects us to follow Him, even to suffering and death.  The death of ourselves, death of our desires, and death of our selfishness.  Following Christ is not to be taken lightly.  In order to grow spiritually, we must die.

1 Peter 2:21-24 ~

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Beautiful Blood.  Bloodroot has small white blossoms that open at the dawn of each day and close at dusk.  They are small petals, but there is a beauty about them. Christ's broken body and shed blood is beautiful.  It is beautiful because it washes away our sin when we confess. It is beautiful because each drop of that dripping blood falls and cleanses our sin.  His bleeding wipes away our tears and brings hope.  His blood makes us pure.

Hebrews 9:14 ~

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify 

our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can

worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Healing blood.  Dangerous blood.  Beautiful blood.  Christ’s blood was poured out for me.  Christ’s blood was poured out for you.

Spend some time, writing a prayer of praise, thanking God for Christ’s blood that was shed for you.