Jesus bled once and for all
Could you imagine walking into church, picking up a cup of animal blood and sprinkling it on the ground seven times as an act of repentance??
Probably not!
It is hard for our 21st-century minds to imagine such a scenario. But in the Old Testament, this was part of the sacred ritual performed by the high priest on the Day of Atonement, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.
On this day, once a year, the entire nation repented, and their sins would be forgiven for the past year.
God gave detailed instructions on how to celebrate the Day of Atonement (as found in Leviticus 16).The sprinkling of blood was one of the many steps to “make atonement” for the sins of the people.
Paul teaches us that the rituals and festivals from the Old Testament were just a shadow of what was to come:
“…are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” – Colossians 2:17
The High Priest sprinkling the blood of the sacrifice on the ground seven times was a prophetic picture of Jesus–our ultimate High Priest–whose blood stained the ground for you seven times on Good Friday.
The high priest in the Old Testament had to perform the atonement rituals every year. But when Jesus came, He made the sacrifice once and for all!
“But when Christ came as High Priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” – Hebrews 9:11-12
friend, take a moment today to thank Jesus that we no longer have to make atonement through rituals and sacrifices but instead can receive redemption each day through His eternal sacrifice.
