The blood of Jesus still runs warm. I first heard this phrase during a Bible study class. The impact of this expression, which is both shocking and mind blowing, actually helped me better grasp the truth of being covered in the blood of Jesus. Thinking about real, living, warm blood is at first somewhat gruesome but when meditating on it further it occurred to me that when I was dead in my transgressions, I was dead cold. The life giving warmth of the blood of Christ covered my frozen and failing heart-- spiritual hypothermia--and breathed new life into my congealing spirit. I’m not only presented to God as holy by this sacred covering that washes away my sin and makes me clean but I’m also given life by its warmth and vitality. His blood is living, flowing and warm. Just think of it. It will not dry up or run out, and it has no limits. There is enough to cover every single person ever created.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13
With physical hypothermia the body gets so cold breathing slows and the heart quivers instead of beats. A person appears dead: cold, unresponsive, without breath or pulse, and their eyes won’t respond to light. Applied spiritually does this sound familiar? This is an accurate description of the state of my soul before I accepted CPR from Jesus. Jesus being who he is went even further and gave me a blood transfusion. Now we’re related! How cool is that? Or should I say warm.
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirits that we are God’s children. Romans 8:12-16
First aid instructions for hypothermia states that one should never assume a person is dead. They may look as good as dead but we’re always to assume they’re alive. Trust that there is hope, that breath and life can be restored. When we’re ready and willing to be rescued Jesus moves us out of the cold, warms us by sharing his body heat, never leaves us alone and never gives up hope. He doesn’t just jumpstart us; he pours his Spirit into us, affecting every part of our being.
…because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved . Ephesians 2: 4-5
Copyright Sheri Del Core
