Oh the blood of Jesus…..

Scripture:
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. – Leviticus 17:11

Observation:
God told Moses and the people of Israel why they were not to eat the blood of animals: it was the life of the animal and God gave them that blood as an atonement of sins. They were to revere the price the animal made in sacrifice of its life, as temporary payment of their sins.

Application:
Although God told the Hebrews not to eat blood because it was the sin-atoning life of the sacrificed animal, it could not remove the sin of the person for whom it was sacrificed. The animal’s blood merely covered (atoned) the sins for a year, a temporary, fixed span of time. Thus, each year the high priest had to offer up a sacrifice for the people annually. Jesus came and offered himself as that sacrifice – not only to atone/cover our sins but to pardon us for all time from the penalty of the crime of sin. Jesus’ blood, as perfect, sinless, human blood, could remove the debt owed by the sinner for whom it was sacrificed. Therefore, we should still offer respect for the blood of Jesus, which he shed on the cross. Why? Because it is the very thing that allows you and me to have life spiritually and to spend eternity with God. Without that shed blood of Jesus, we’d still be slaughtering animals and never able to enter into permanent relationship with our heavenly Father. Hence, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (blood), and no one comes to God the Father except through Jesus.

Even the Hebraic author wrote that once we come to the knowledge of the truth and continue to willfully sin, we make the blood of Jesus of no effect. How? We sear our own consciences through repeated acts of sin that harden our hearts to the point that sin becomes our master and are no longer serving the God of Love who sacrificed himself to give us eternal life through the torturous offering of his own human blood! We must live holy lives before our God out of our love for him. He requires only three things of us: do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before Him. Let us honor the shed blood of our Savior and Redeemer by loving him with all our beings and loving our neighbors as ourselves, so as not to make a mockery out of his sacrifice.

Prayer:
Father, oh what a horrific thing to tread upon and stomp on the most holy and precious blood of the Lamb of God! LORD, help me to stay cognizant of the price paid by your Son and you for the redemption of my once former sinful soul. I am holy only because of your holiness and righteousness. May I walk in humility before you and demonstrate my love for you in my dealing with others. May your love and grace flow out of me as it does from you to all mankind. I give myself to you, O Majestic One, for all time. Forgive me of my wrongs and make me white with the blood of your Son. May I be pure and consecrated for your work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.