In 1927, in West Africa, a man named Asabi was sick with yellow fever. He gave a sample
of his blood for the purpose of making a vaccine. After much work, testing, and failing, the
vaccine was successful. Even to this day, all yellow fever vaccines are part of that original strain
taken from that humble man. The blood of that one man served the whole human race.
To a much greater degree, the blood of a man who lived and died over 2000 years ago has
served, indeed saved, the whole human race from Adam to the end of time. That man is our Lord
Jesus Christ. His blood, which cleansed sins in the first century, is still cleansing today. “If we
walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”(1 John 1:7) We are redeemed by this blood (1 Peter
1:18-19). We are justified by His blood (Romans 5:9). We are washed and made white in His
blood (Revelation 7:14).
I am thankful that the blood of Asabi prevented yellow fever. I am more thankful that the
blood of Christ saves us.
— John Wright