What this leads on to is the fact that when Christ died on the cross there was more to it than simply a death comparable to that of the malefactors hanged with him, plus a physical shedding of his blood as a result of a soldier piercing his side with a spear. Certainly Christ had to physically die and the outpouring of his physical blood was necessary as a witness that his life in flesh and blood had been terminated. However, there was a spiritual side to his death - what he felt in his soul. The blood is the life (or soul) of the flesh as we have seen but when he died on the cross there was as well as a physical outpouring of his blood a spiritual outpouring of his life (soul) as we have it in Isaiah 53:12 "he hath poured out his soul unto death". Again: "his soul [was made] an offering for sin" (Isaiah 53:10). The outpouring of his soul was the spiritual equivalent of the outpouring of his blood. Under the Mosaic law various things had to be done with the blood of an animal that had been killed. Such physical things were not done with Christ's blood, but it could be an interesting and profitable study to see what the spiritual equivalents of the rites carried out under the Mosaic law are. The thought has been held by some, on the basis of what is said in Hebrews 9, that Christ actually took his blood up to heaven and presented it to God. However, this is really materialising what is essentially a spiritual matter.

Bloodshedding in Scripture primarily refers to the outpouring of blood when a person is killed by a sword or some similar instrument. See for example the case of Amasa in 2 Samuel 20:10-12.However, the term bloodshedding is extended to all death by the violent action of another. For instance Stephen was stoned (Acts 7:54-60) and Paul refers to this event as bloodshedding when he says: "When the blood of thy witness Stephen was shed" (Acts 22:20). However, when Stephen was killed there may not have been a great outpouring of blood, for stoning, as also crucifixion, does not necessarily involve a great loss of blood. Paul himself was stoned (2 Corinthians 11:25; Acts 14:19/20). As will be seen from the latter passage he recovered from the stoning, which he would not have done had his blood been actually shed out. The point is of some importance, because although Christ was put to death by crucifixion, he did not die from loss of blood as his side was not pierced until he was already dead. If we were to take it that Christ's death was not due to bloodshedding it could be said that Christ did not make atonement for sin because "it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11) and "without blood-shedding there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). The first three Gospel writers do not mention any outpouring of blood in connection with the actual death of Christ though they do tell us that Christ spoke of it at the last supper (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20).

Scripture uses the word 'blood' (life) for that which is taken when a person is killed. It is specifically connected with Christ's death, so that we have: "Christ has died for us. Much rather therefore, having been now justified in (the power of) his blood, we shall be saved by him from wrath. For if, being enemies, we have been reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much rather, having been reconciled, we shall be saved in (the power of) his life" (Romans 5:8-10). Persons often die for reasons other than blood shedding, that is, from sickness or accident (See for examples: 2 Kings 13:14 & 1 Samuel 4:18).

To summarise we may say that:

(1) Our redemption was accomplished by the giving up of Christ's life in flesh and blood by crucifixion. It was the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20). See also Ephesians 1:7; 2:13. The outpouring of his blood as a result of the soldier piercing his side put it beyond question that his life in flesh and blood had been terminated. This is also the answer to the sceptic's assertion that Christ did not really die but only went into a swoon from which he recovered in the cool of the tomb.