The unanswered question remained: “What was the importance of his blood?”

“Hmmm… Blood…” I thought, searching my mind for answers. In practical terms, blood was an essential component to all living beings to keep them alive.

Blood is also responsible for regulating body temperature and carries oxygen and nutrients to the lungs and tissues and controls the formation of clots to prevent blood loss. Blood also carries cells and antibodies to fight infection and takes waste products to the kidneys, liver and digestive system, which goes through a process of filtration and cleaning. This process allows the body to be kept in check and working as one system.

Understanding the relationship of blood to life, I understood life could not be sustained with one separated from the other. 

In thinking about the stag in the ute, his bleeding nose, and the inevitable death that was going to come, reminded me of Christ’s journey to the cross. It reminded me of the ultimate price Christ was willing to pay for me, so that I may be free of fear.

The stag’s herd was lost without their leader, and, doing what deer do, with the threat of the unwelcomed hunter’s return, they displayed some crazy behaviour. They thought they were protecting themselves by getting out of their fence and running onto the nearby road, without realising the danger they were putting themselves in. 

Without the actions of the stag – instinctively taking the injury when the unwelcomed hunter came, the deer would have been killed, whether the deer understood this truth or not. The owner actively and lovingly took care of his herd also, whether the deer had an awareness of this or not. They were all loved and cared for and when any of them went wondering, the owner looked for them.

The big difference in the story of Christ and us, is that as our Leader, He not only instinctively but consciously, willingly, voluntarily and freely chose to take death for our sake. And this death was different. This death couldn’t hold Him, and He had the power to take His life back up again from God, as John writes:

“No one takes it [my life] from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:18.

“Why was dying for us so important?” you might ask. Well, John 3:16 explains it very simply:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The result of that death allowed us the option of life with the Godhead in Heaven for eternity.

I had felt fear had a stronghold over me, but if I took up the invitation of God’s first appeal – “Keep your eyes on me,” it became clear that the pain I was experiencing came from the fact that I had unintentionally taken my eyes off God. This separation was uncomfortable and unsettling and left me open to attack. I had wandered outside of the fence. This separation created anxiety and overtime grew the monster of fear that I was living with every day. The risk of losing my life became greater the longer I stayed out there, on the road. God was calling for me and I knew His voice, even if the traffic I was running amongst was loud and confusing. He was searching to find me and had a safer and much more profitable place for me. 

By choosing to look to God, I could see Christ had already chosen me first. Christ had given His Blood and Body for me, to provide the solution for my sinful condition so there was no separation between us. I was looking at Him and He was looking at me. In closing that separation, the stronghold of fear that I had been held by was broken. I was given freedom. I saw fear for what it was, and it no longer had power over me and fled.

The next appeal of “Write about our friendship” began to make sense too. After I began to write, I could better understand my own thoughts and processing style, and it shone a light on the number of stories I had gathered throughout our continuing friendship. I could also see the personal growth that I had made over the previous ten years and gathered enough evidence to see that God was who He said He was. Nothing was lost, and I had been found.

After I began to tell others about my friendship with God, other people began to be willing to share their stories with me too. I had found my herd, so to speak, and I found a peace in that story sharing. It kept me away from the road. It reminded me of a verse in Luke 14:27 that says,

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

The choice I was left with was – “Will you accept my peace?”

I wanted that peace! I was beginning to understand that I still may feel uncomfortable at times, perhaps need to adapt to a new environment, maybe even attempt running when things don’t go as planned, but with the evidence of God’s true character and accepting that Christ did have love for me by acknowledging the actions He took to assure me eternal life, and also by me choosing to stay within the safety of the fence with my herd, I could find rest for my soul. A rest that could not be found anywhere else. A rest that was offered to not just me, but anyone who wanted it.

The understanding I had with accepting this peace allowed me to move forward in the appeals God had set me. I could move forward with courage, knowing that God would never leave me, and His word was true.

This was confirmed in Deuteronomy 31:6 where it says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread, … for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you,”

And further in Isaiah 41:10:

“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous hand.”

And with that, God quietly asked me again, “Do you trust me?” and my reply came easily, “Yes, God, you have my heart, I trust you!”

I invite you, as a reader and fellow herd member, if you so choose, to come along the journey with me, as we share our stories together.

God’s invitation is open to you.

Psalm 34:4–5 says,

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”

My crazy prayer to see a deer was answered, yet the lesson that came with Him was crazier!

Happy Easter!