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.

WHY BOTHER PRAY?

Within recent weeks a few heads of state designated specific days for prayer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas many welcomed the move, some thought it was unscientific and superstitious. Both responses invite us to answer the question, why pray?

Persons who pray are acknowledging that there is a source of power beyond our own power. In addition, persons who pray, acknowledge that that power can accomplish much more than anything we can accomplish. Hence, whenever situations appear insurmountable, it seems natural to turn to that source of power for help. And, considering that we face many insurmountable situations in life, including COVID-19, prayer becomes an obvious option.

Persons who acknowledge a superior source of power, tend to live their lives with that perspective in view. In other words, their belief affects their behavior. Hence, persons who pray should be less pompous and more submissive. They ought to live with a greater sense of responsibility and accountability to the source of power they acknowledge.

However, what if there is no superior source of power? In other words, what if prayer is nothing but superstition? Well, intellectually, the praying person would be wrong. Even then, the praying person would not be a loser. The praying person would have pursued a purposeful lifestyle that enabled him to live an exemplary life. His community would have benefited from his spirit of humility and responsible living.

However, what if the unbeliever were wrong? And, what if the superior source of power is not superstitious? The unbeliever would have lived a life devoid of supernatural strength. In addition, the unbeliever would have had no one to whom he could commit matters that were bigger than he could carry, like COVID-19. The unbeliever would not be able to mobilize his community beyond himself, since he is the final arbiter of his destiny. At the end of life’s journey, the unbeliever dies without hope – there was nothing beyond this life to whom he could entrust himself. What a life!

But how does the praying person know that his prayers are not superstitious? Firstly, he has at his disposal, reliable records of answered prayer. Records written over hundreds of years, from different countries, in different languages by a variety of writers, known for their integrity. The records are often referred to as the most reliable source of ancient history. These records are collated and translated in more languages than any other book. Although critiqued more than any other piece of literature, annually, this collated material continues to be a best seller.

Other than the Bible, the praying person has a treasury of non-biblical historical records of answered prayer. For centuries our world has benefited from the stories of conversion, healing, renewal, revivals and various forms of transformation. The praying person believes that if his source of power could answer prayer and has answered prayers, chances are that He will continue to answer prayers today.

Then, for what should the praying person pray in times of crisis, especially this pandemic, COVID-19. Should we ask God to remove viruses? Or, should we ask Him to enable us to cope with and to manage viruses? I trust this acrostic would prove helpful as we seek to know for who and for what we should pray at this time.

P    Persons diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus

      Parents who now manage teaching and working from home

      Plan to live life more purposefully, life is short and fragile

R   Researchers working to find a drug to reverse the impact of the virus

      Remember medical persons who daily risk their lives in service

      Renew commitment to family, it is your most valuable investment

A  Authorities providing leadership in politics and research

     Aged persons now living in fear and relegated to victim-hood

     Attempt to improve nutrition and personal hygiene

Y  Yourself…be determined to become a better person because of crisis

     Youth should commit to utilize their strengths to serve the weak

     Yearn for wisdom to rebuild our communities after COVID-19.

Life should not be the same after COVID-19. Every area of life has been impacted and we should see this pandemic as an opportunity to review why and how we do, what we do.

One last question, what if the praying persons prays, and still dies. Wouldn’t that nullify the faith of the praying person? Certainly not. The faith of the praying person includes the death of the praying person. Interestingly, the Bible describes the death of the praying person as sleep. The use of the word “sleep” implies that death does not mean the end. According to the Apostle Paul, if death were the end of the praying person, he deserves to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19). Because death is not the end, one can understand why praying persons can die with courage and fortitude. For me, this is why it makes sense to pray during COVID-19.