Life is in the blood

"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life."  Lev 17:11 (NIV)

I donated blood yesterday since the mobile blood bank came over to the Community Club near my place; my 15th time since I started giving when I was in the university.  This was also in response to an sms from the blood bank indicating that my blood type (O) was very low.  Looking at the donorweb just now, the A type is also currently at a low level.  You can donate blood if you're in relatively good health and have not contracted HIV or some other specified diseases. 

It takes less than an hour to donate.   There are basically 5 stations in all.
Station 1: Registration (identification card needed): need to fill in a health declaration form
Station 2: Screening by a doctor: checking of weight, blood pressure, temperature and social/medical history
Station 3: Blood test: finger is pricked to check blood haemoglobin level; once cleared, proceed to Station 4
Station 4: Blood donation:  if you've been donating regularly, indicate the arm you'd like your blood to be extracted from as the vein can be seen clearly; after cleaning your arm, a painkiller would be given (that's about the only pain you'd have to endure - ant bite though) to ensure painless donation.  You would be given iron supplements by the nurse and a card to indicate when you could next donate.
Station 5: Refreshments: light refreshment like beverages/packet drinks and snacks are usually provided; at the Blood Bank in HSA, you would be given a coupon to exchange for some refreshment at the cafeteria.

After donation, your arm would be bandaged (which can be removed after about 4 hours) and care must be taken not to exert the arm.  Drink plenty of water and rest; take the iron supplement if needed.  Only 450ml (a pint) of blood is extracted together with an additional amount which would be sent for various tests to ensure that it is safe to be used for transfusion or other purposes.  A normal healthy adult would have his blood replenished in 3 days.  Even as I gave blood, I remembered the great sacrifice of my Master for me - the pain and the agony He had to endure; the scourging, beating and the cross.

The Scriptures tell us that life is in the blood and the soul that sins, it must die (Eze 18:20).  Clean animals were thus sacrificed at the altar to make atonement for sins.  In this case, the life of the animals were exchanged for the life of the humans.  Our Lord Jesus, who became the Lamb of God, was the ultimate sacrifice for human kind.  By His shed blood on the cross, He redeemed mankind from the curse of the law and brought atonement between God and men.  Just as the blood of man (in its various components) can be used to bring life to another human being who is injured and in need of blood, more so the holy blood of Jesus has power to bring spiritual wholeness to those under condemnation of sin.  I often pray for the sick releasing the blood of Jesus into their blood veins to cleanse, purify and make whole the entire body system.
Hallelujah for the precious blood of the Lamb!