NEEDED: Blood of An Overcomer

A few days ago, a division of the American National Institute of Health was looking for volunteers to donate blood. The Institute was looking for donors who had fully recovered from confirmed COVID-19 infection. It is believed that one critical asset in the fight against COVID-19 is blood from people who were sick and then recovered.

I understand that analysis of blood samples can give researchers information about how people develop protective antibodies after an infection. Those antibodies provide an infected person a level of protection from the virus in the future — they’re unlikely to be infected again because their body’s new antibodies will stop the virus.

This is an old strategy and dates back as far as the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak in the United States, when doctors reported that it helped reduce a number of deaths in seriously ill patients. Recently, it’s been used on an experimental basis to treat people with viruses like MERS, H1N1, and Ebola.

Overcoming viruses in this way reminds me of Dr Paul Brand’s book, In His Image. Here he tells the story of his daughter with measles in India. She needed blood from someone who had measles before. The appeal for help was headlined, “Blood of An Overcomer Needed.” A donor was found, and his daughter was healed. The donor’s blood was referred to as the blood of a victor. 

Similar language was used in the first century – the blood of an overcomer was needed. Blood from someone who could identify with the people needing help. This is how the situation is described in the New Testament:

           “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so

           that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is

           the Devil…” (Hebrews 2:14).

The author was referring to this week’s celebration of Easter – the story of Jesus dying, so that others might live. But how could the death of Jesus be viewed as the death of an overcomer? Let’s ask one of his disciples:

           For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited

           from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their

           value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God”             

           (1 Peter 1:18-19 – New Living Translation).

That is exactly how COVID-19 donors are described. Following full recovery, their blood is referred to as convalescent plasma. This plasma contains antibodies that attack the virus in a victim. The advantage of convalescent plasma is that you don’t need to develop a vaccine or treatment from scratch. Convalescent plasma is strong enough to defeat the virus.

The Bible borrows this imagery to describe the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible contends that the blood of Jesus, like convalescent plasma, is from someone who already experienced what the victim is experiencing. Convalescent plasma infuses new life into the victim. So too does the blood of Jesus. Among other things the blood of Jesus infuses cleansing, healing, and life. In his first letter, John, a disciple of Jesus argues that “…the blood of Jesus…purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

The health of the donor has very much to do with the efficacy of the blood donated.

Apart from being diagnosed with COVID-19, donors must meet all standard eligibility criteria for blood donation and wait a defined period of time after they test negative for the disease, before donating plasma.

Donors must be both available and suitable. The success of the plasma transfusion depends heavily on the suitability of the donor. In essence, the blood must be perfect. Defective blood can be disastrous to the victim. In comparing the efficacy of the blood of Jesus with what was practiced in Judaism, the writer to the book of Hebrews made the point that Jesus offered blood that was “unblemished and able to cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death…” (Hebrews 9:14).

During this week, many donors will be making themselves available for plasma transfusion. We pray that their noble contributions will make a difference in the lives of many victims. During this week, we will also reflect on Jesus, who died in order that everyone may experience a life transfusion. For almost 2,000 years, millions have had this transfusion.

Prior to the crucifixion of Jesus, religious life transfusions were limited and riddled with cultural bureaucracy. While on the cross, Jesus brought that to an end when he shouted, “It is finished.” That was a jubilant shout of triumph. Jesus knew that his death had brought religious bureaucracy to an end. Access to God was no longer limited to priests and animal sacrifices. 

His sacrifice on the cross was enough – that did it. As we celebrate Easter this week, we must never forget that it was through his crucifixion, Jesus became an overcomer. Hence, his blood contains “protective antibodies” that give life to any victim of spiritual death.