Blood (Leviticus 17:11-16)
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and zi have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for you souls…”
It is important to understand the ceremonial importance of what is going on here. There is nothing magic about blood. It is the life of the animal being killed that is represented in the blood. And life—or more importantly, death—is required to pay the price of the rebellion of sin. For, since mankind sinned and is condemned to death as a result, only a substitutionary death can satisfy the guilt of sin. So, an animal had to die to pay for a sin. And that only held judgement at bay, because more sins were sure to follow.
But, since the blood represents the life, and the life is given for something as solemn as atonement, Israel was not to goof-off with blood.
Today we do not have to observe this sort of ceremony. (Although who in their right mind wants to eat or play with blood?). But on this side of the cross we understand how Jesus’ blood covered a multitude of sins (the whole world’s in fact!). He is no mere animal, but a true human being. And He is not an imperfect substitute in another way, as He is truly without sin.
It is important to understand the ceremonial importance of what is going on here. There is nothing magic about blood. It is the life of the animal being killed that is represented in the blood. And life—or more importantly, death—is required to pay the price of the rebellion of sin. For, since mankind sinned and is condemned to death as a result, only a substitutionary death can satisfy the guilt of sin. So, an animal had to die to pay for a sin. And that only held judgement at bay, because more sins were sure to follow.
But, since the blood represents the life, and the life is given for something as solemn as atonement, Israel was not to goof-off with blood.
Today we do not have to observe this sort of ceremony. (Although who in their right mind wants to eat or play with blood?). But on this side of the cross we understand how Jesus’ blood covered a multitude of sins (the whole world’s in fact!). He is no mere animal, but a true human being. And He is not an imperfect substitute in another way, as He is truly without sin.
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