The Blood of Jesus Christ
By Hannah Shin ‘26
As I reclined on the donor bed, squeezing an orange stress ball emblazoned “every drop counts,” I stared at the blood flowing out of my arm. I had headed over to a Mass General Bloodmobile shortly after class one Thursday.
Gazing at the vials filled with scarlet, I couldn’t help but think about the blood of Jesus on the cross.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate donor who gave His life for us and, having risen from the dead, continues to love us for eternity. My mind remained fixed on Him as I walked through Harvard Square in the brisk fall breeze. Arriving at my dorm, I gushed with excitement as I talked with one of my roommates. I marveled at how we get to receive a fresh blood transfusion from Jesus every single day. He gives us strength as we grow, slowly but surely, to become more like Him.
Sensing my fervor, my roommate encouraged me to write my thoughts down. As a follower of Christ herself, she, too, feels sustained by Him day by day. Our faith strengthens our friendship, and we have been delighted to learn that quite a few of our classmates also live by Jesus Christ.
In fact, many choose to begin a relationship with Jesus in college as they contemplate existential questions and perhaps encounter the Gospel message that “God so loved the world, that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV). The power of Christ poured out through His blood sustains the undergraduate Christian community here at Harvard as we pursue our University’s motto of veritas, truth. When I hear the phrase “bleed crimson” used to express school spirit around Harvard-Yale, this is what comes to mind.
During finals, Mass General’s Blood Donation Center notified me that my blood was “on its way to help save a life in need.” I thought again of Jesus's blood and who might next accept His gift of salvation. In the words of Apostle Paul, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, ESV).
Contributed by Hannah Shin. Hannah is a senior at Harvard College studying Economics and Social Anthropology with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy.
