Sacrifice

Why did God need blood sacrifice? 

Look at mythology, horror stories, creature features, etc. To appease the gods who were always angry (think of the God of the Old Testament), a young virgin (never a male virgin) had to die. Or an unblemished calf, 1st born of the flock. Even King Kong was given a native girl as sacrifice until the white woman showed up. (That's a whole other story.) Dragons and other fierce beasts guarded the gold and the virgin, neither of which the beasts had need for.

In the Old Testament, there was a lot of sacrificing going on. Look at the Temple. One part of it was covered in blood. Imagine the smell yet this was supposed to be a sweet smelling savor in the nostrils of God. The High Priest wore a rope with bells attached so his body could be pulled from the Holy of Holies if he dared go before God in an unclean or sinful state. (Those outside the temple listened to hear if they no longer heard the bells.) Gives new meaning to the phrase, "the fear of the Lord".

In todays society, many are against capital punishment. Interesting that capital punishment runs through the history of man from the beginning to the present. Jesus was the first to die-the Lamb slain before the foundatioin of the earth. Cain slew Abel and on it goes. Millions killed in Africa, Syria, Eastern Europe, North Korea and other places even today. Millions of Jews killed in Germany. One race trying to eliminate another (usually in the name of God). African Americans still being sacrificed through "stand your ground" laws in 2014. Native Americans slaughtered, the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc. Sanctioned by God. The difference now is that you may not be sacrificed on an alter but if you don't obey, if you make a mistake, if you commit adultery, or smoke a cigarette or commit some other sin and die before repenting, you will spend eternity (how long is that again?) in torment and agony. Then we turn the page and we meet the God of Love. And I'm told to love this God because He loves me.