Day 38 - Leviticus 15-17

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE

Day 38 -Leviticus 15-17 (What's Up With Blood Sacrifices?)

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“and the LORD said to Moses: "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat…. "And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself.  "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.”  (Leviticus 16:2,11,15)

Why did Aaron need to offer a blood sacrifice first for himself before he offered the blood sacrifice for the people?  The answer is simple: God wanted to show the Israelites that even the high priest needed atonement for his own sins through animal sacrifice because “all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)

But can the blood of bulls and goats really atone for the sins of man?  The author of the book of Hebrews answers:  “...it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4)  He explains in the preceding verses that the law was merely a shadow of the good things to come (referring to the Messiah who was to be the very image of those things) and that the sacrifices which the priests offered continually year by year can never make those who approach (God) perfect.   “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.   But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.”  (Hebrews 10:2-3)

Then the same author of Hebrews further explains in chapter 10 beginning in verse 5 how that God the Father had prepared a body for His Son in order to become the perfect sacrificial Lamb whose blood can atone for the sins of all men from Adam to the last person who would be born.  

Unlike the priests who “stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins”, Jesus “after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”  (Hebrews 10:11-14)

The Bible is very clear that Jesus has fulfilled the law and has become the Perfect Lamd sarificed for our sins.  Only through Him can there be atonement for the sins of man.  Have you made Christ your sacrificial Lamb that has taken away your sins forever?  If not, I please with you to do so right now for your own soul’s sake.