“When Christ came into the world, he said to God, ‘Sacrifices and offerings are not what you want, but you have given me my body.’”
(Heb 10:5, CEV)
As introduction, a brief biology lesson J the study of DNA is a sub-branch of genetics, a scientific field that, amongst other things, studies genealogical transfer, how genes transfer information from one generation to the next. In each of the body’s cells there are unique gene codes of the individual’s distinctive being. Complex combinations of DNA form the pairs of chromosomes in each cell. Mitochondria are DNA which is transferred from one generation to the next; it also enables each cell in the body to breathe and cool down. Without it human tissue could not perform metabolic processes and no life would be possible. Mitochondria are only transferred from mother to child, and thus the child only inherits the mother’s mitochondria. It follows that the genetic code of DNA can only be traced back through the mother, and not the father, a well-known forensic fact. Jesus thus had to receive the mitochondria of Mary’s DNA in order to be conceived as man and to henceforth live the life of a man. The woman’s seed was truly indispensable in making his life possible (Gen 3:15 & 20). (Therefore Eve is called the mother of all living things – Gen 3:20.) In this light Heb 10:5, quoted above, can become a reality – in this immaculate manner God, through Christ, received a fleshly body.
Heb 2:13 quotes a proclamation made by Christ concerning the “children” that have been left in His care – “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.” In verse 14 the writer of the book of Hebrews then makes this comment: “Inasmuch then as the children have had partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same …” The Greek word for partakers, which refers to the children of Adam, is koinoneho, which means “to fully partake”. The words took part, which refers to Jesus, is the Green word metecho, which means “to take part but not all”. Jesus shared the flesh of Adam, but not his blood!
For this reason Paul refers to him as “the Man, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:15) who “taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men … and being found in appearance as a man” (Phil 2:7b-8a) is yet “without sin” (Heb 4:15).
For lack of a better term we could conclude that Jesus’ blood was clean; without curses, illnesses, genetic deviations, even without death. Because although we know that life is in the blood we also know that blood is the carrier of sickness and death. The blood of Jesus was completely uncontaminated. 1 Pet 1:19 calls it “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”. In this teaching we focused on the flesh and blood of Jesus the Christ, God’s Body prepared for the largest sacrifice of all time.
- Sela: Triumphantly proclaim Rev 5:9-10 on the grounds of today’s teaching.
- Read: 2 Chr 3; Job 1; Rev 5
- Memorise: Rev 5:9-10
- For a deeper understanding: Read chapter 6 in William Barclay’s The plain man looks at the apostles’ creed.
