red – BARBARA HIGBY

Red in the Bible

After last week’s post about red, I wondered how often the Bible mentions red. We may instantly think of the blood of Jesus—as some of you commented. But does it say, “Red blood?” It doesn’t. I looked it up.

Esau was the red twin (who asked his brother Jacob for a bowl of red stew).

The Red Sea is repeatedly mentioned citing God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites.

Animal skins were dyed red and covered the tabernacle.

Numbers 19 required a red heifer for a special sacrifice, which could send us down a long rabbit trail. Currently five red heifers are penned in a secret location in Israel and viewed as a fulfillment of end time prophecy. I’m certainly not equipped to expound on this.

But then we come to the glorious promise in Isaiah 1:18:

“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”

Sin is red, scarlet, crimson, but is it actually red? Or is it the sacrifice for sin that is red?

Sin cannot be condoned—it must be atoned for, and the atonement is always a costly sacrifice that bleeds red. Before you protest, examine your own cry for justice when you are wronged. Whether you’re slandered, robbed, or raped, physically or emotionally, the abuse demands justice and justice is what we are promised. Later in Isaiah (42:1), he prophesies about Jesus.

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen One in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.”

But that is still not all Jesus’ shed blood is for. It is for our own sins, those red blots that stain us and are impossible to wash away. The Bible’s red is both for the sin and the sacrifice. What amazing grace and freedom are found in Jesus’ redemption. He alone saves us by opening the way to God, who says,

“Come now, let us settle the matter…
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

I’ve written posts about colors I love—yellow, green, and blue (my favorite)—but Valentine’s Day makes me think about red and I find myself torn. It has never been a favorite color and I rarely wear it. Maybe your wardrobe is highlighted with bursts of red and it’s your first choice for lips and nails or neckties. Just for fun, meander with me and then let me know how you feel about red.

For me, red screams. I think of red stop signs and traffic lights and the red flashes that pull me over if I ignore either. I think of red corrections scribbled on my writing or of “being in the red” when I neglect to balance my account. And I think of the red Empty light which is so disappointing when I’m eager to get someplace and don’t want to stop for gas. Or the red warning lights that hiss “Check Engine” or some other unwelcome message.

I do confess that I choose a team to root for by the color of their uniforms—I know you sports fans are cringing. That being said, I never cheer for a team wearing red, just like I would never buy a red car.

But…

I view the glorious red streaks in a sunset and my breath catches. I spontaneously smile when I see bright red cardinals punctuating the grey collage of branches outside my window or the red caps on the heads of woodpeckers tapping the trees in search of food.

And speaking of food, who can resist a ripe red strawberry, crisp red apple, tasty red Jersey tomato, or a juicy red watermelon? I love red peppers in my salad along with red radishes. And how much delight is there in lifting the lid of a pot of simmering red spaghetti sauce?

I have a passion for holly bushes and thrill at the red berries set against shiny green leaves and the winterberry holly plant that’s mostly berries with few leaves. Which makes me think of Christmas décor with its cheerful pops of red. I tried to transition to burgundy but soon defaulted to “Christmas red,” which leads us to other holidays celebrated with red.

Patriotic holidays entice me to add red accents to my outfit. The red, white, and blue color scheme stirs my heart and lifts my mood. Around Memorial Day, I appreciate freshly planted red impatiens alternating with white in a garden border.

And then there’s tomorrow, Valentine’s Day, awash in red. There’s something to be said for perky red carnations and the velvet soft petals of red roses. I grow nostalgic remembering days gone by when I created cards with red paper doilies and cut out red construction paper hearts. I fondly remember my father giving me a small, red, heart-shaped box of chocolates every Valentine’s Day.

So, tell me…

How do you feel about red?

Tag: red

How Do You Feel about Red?