1 of 3

Jenny knew the sobering statistics: Less than 5 percent of the population gives blood, yet 97 percent will be affected by a life-saving blood donation—either for themselves, a family member, or close personal friend. She believed if Christians could understand the significance of donating blood, they could meet the blood needs of the whole world. I agreed. Who better to understand the importance of giving blood than those who are covered by the blood of Jesus?

Jenny believed God had given her life a profound purpose that went beyond school or softball or even recovering from leukemia.

She never wavered in her faith, nor did she ask God, "Why me?"

But I did.

I was at my lowest ebb during the summer of 1993, when Jenny was receiving a bone marrow transplant at the Lucille Salter-Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University. The procedure takes the patient to a point where she has no immune system left, and any kind of germ could kill her.

That particular moonlit night, I rested under a big bay window in her hospital room. Jenny was asleep. Sleep was precious to her then. I was feeling lonely and vulnerable, and I began to sob softly. In that moment, I asked, Why, God? Why is this happening to her? She loves You so much. Where are You?

Then I sensed in my spirit a still, small voice saying: "Here I am, Dean. Here I am." My eyes focused to the right of her bed. The moon coming in the window illuminated the iv pole, casting the shadow of a huge cross on the wall. "Here I am, Dean." On the pole was a bag of blood.

In that instant, I thought of the life-giving blood that poured out of Jesus as He hung on the cross. Later I wondered about His blood type. Surely He was O-negative, the universal donor. That blood can save anyone.

Through that long night, as God comforted me, I thought about the three main components of blood—red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets—and considered how they each represent Him.

Red blood cells are like God the Father, the author of life. They bring oxygen, the breath of life, to every cell in our body. White blood cells are like God the Son, our advocate and defender. They fight against that which infects us. Platelets are like God the Holy Spirit, our healer. They are sticky cells that rush to the site when we are cut and form a clot that closes the wound and helps us heal. 

I gasped, astonished to see the Trinity so clearly revealed in the blood.

In the days that followed, I began searching the Scriptures for more understanding about the significance of blood. In Leviticus 17:10-11, I read that life is in the blood. Blood was given as an atonement. Blood belonged to God, to be poured out before Him in sacrifice.

next page... |  1 of 3

	What did you think of this story?
	Please to give us your feedback.

Home  |  People of Faith  |  Stories of Hope  |  Today's Culture
Build Your Faith  |  Laughing Matters  |  Archives  |  Contact Us

				Try 3 Issues of Christianity Today Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless. Give Christianity Today as a gift Order a gift subscription!