Clean or Unclean Because of Blood - Leviticus 15-16 and Matthew 27:1-26
I find it interesting to consider what the Bible says about the effects of blood. On one hand, the presence of human blood or bodily discharge caused a person to be unclean in the Old Testament time. On the other hand, the offering of the blood of an animal brought atonement and cleansing to the unclean person. I know that the effects of the human blood were partly because of the spread of germs, but it was more than that. If a person entered God's presence in a state of physical uncleanness, it had spiritual consequences. (Leviticus 15:31) However, the High Priest was commanded to use the blood of the bull and the goat to sprinkle on the Mercy seat in the Holy of Holies to atone for the sins of Israel on the Day of atonement. What is the power of the blood? Yes, I know it points to Jesus' blood, but does it go beyond that?
Look at Matthew 27 in this light. Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He ended up killing himself. Why was he remorseful? He realized Jesus was innocent, but He was going to be executed because of him. That means that Judas knew he was guilty of shedding innocent blood. That was a terrible crime before God. Judas did not repent of his sin, but he did hang himself in remorse. Why? He did it because of shedding innocent human blood. The people who cried out for Jesus instead of Barabbas, were crying out for blood. They told Pilate that the blood was on them. Pilate washed his hands in an effort to get the blood off of his hands. The water could not take away the effects of shedding innocent blood, though. All of them were guilty or unclean because of shedding innocent human blood.
I believe God focuses on the blood to get us to focus on life. Life that is clean or unclean. Life that is corrupted or not corrupted by disease or by sin. The truth is that life is precious. He does not want us to be infected by germs or by sin. He wants us to be clean through the Blood of Jesus. Only by the death of Jesus can we be clean and live forever. I pray that we will think about this as we continue to read through the rest of Leviticus and the rest of the story of the crucifixion.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 17-18 and Matthew 27:27-50.
Look at Matthew 27 in this light. Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He ended up killing himself. Why was he remorseful? He realized Jesus was innocent, but He was going to be executed because of him. That means that Judas knew he was guilty of shedding innocent blood. That was a terrible crime before God. Judas did not repent of his sin, but he did hang himself in remorse. Why? He did it because of shedding innocent human blood. The people who cried out for Jesus instead of Barabbas, were crying out for blood. They told Pilate that the blood was on them. Pilate washed his hands in an effort to get the blood off of his hands. The water could not take away the effects of shedding innocent blood, though. All of them were guilty or unclean because of shedding innocent human blood.
I believe God focuses on the blood to get us to focus on life. Life that is clean or unclean. Life that is corrupted or not corrupted by disease or by sin. The truth is that life is precious. He does not want us to be infected by germs or by sin. He wants us to be clean through the Blood of Jesus. Only by the death of Jesus can we be clean and live forever. I pray that we will think about this as we continue to read through the rest of Leviticus and the rest of the story of the crucifixion.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 17-18 and Matthew 27:27-50.