I am currently reading the book of Leviticus in the Bible. It isn’t an easy book to read because this book talks all about the duties of the temple priests and rituals. In the Bible, this is the third book of the Old Testament,and it’s the book of the laws and rituals for atonement, purification, & cleansing. It can get overwhelming and boring to read. Rules, rules, and more rules. But as I have been pushing through to complete this book, I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for what Jesus did!
One thing I see in this book is how HOLY God is. You can not approach Him casually without atonement. Another thing I see is His desire to dwell among us, to be in our midst, despite our unholiness. There are constant reminders of both these aspects in this book.
Something that struck me this morning was how blood was required in all rituals. There is no ritual in the book of Leviticus without the shedding of the blood of animals. Blood makes atonement, cleanses,and purifies. Jesus’ death made eternal atonement for everything and everyone, fulfilling the requirements of the rituals. He shed His innocent blood, once and for all, to cleanse us from all impurity of sin and death. That also means, since we are already atoned for, we no longer gain access to God through endless rituals and observation of laws. How do we know this? The author of Hebrews, another book in the Bible but in the New Testament, writes this:
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:11-14 ESV
The book of Leviticus gives me a deeper appreciation for what I have received in Christ – grace This is grace is for everyone. We receive it through faith in Him. Praise God that longer have to take goats and calves for atonement. Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, is enough.
This painting is titled Crimson and represents the body and blood of Jesus.
