Sacrifices
The book of Leviticus contains rules regarding how the priests were to participate in the ritual life of the tabernacle (and later the temple). Many have expressed how they have trouble reading through this book because it’s a list of rules. While “rules” may accurately summarize this book, so does “death”.
Death was constantly before the people of ancient Israel. Not only were there many regulations regarding how the dead should be handled, the uncleanness of dead things, and how priests had particular responsibilities in that regard, but the sacrifices of animal life, how the remains were to be disposed of, and particularly the significance of the blood that was spilled. The importance of blood in the sacrifices of Israel is explained in the following verse:
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
Leviticus 17:11
The blood represented the life of the sacrifice and the shedding of blood was the means God gave for atonement.
Better Blood
The entirety of the law finds its fullness in Christ. The book of Hebrews is a great reference in understanding how much of the Levitical laws pointed to him. In the case of sacrifice, here’s what it has to say:
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
The rhetorical question of how much better the blood of Christ was for purifying us is answered explicitly in the next chapter.
But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Hebrews 10:3-4
These verses tell us that the blood of bulls and goats could never remove the sins of man. Why, then, were they such a big part of God’s law to Israel? This is answered as well. There was a reminder for sins every year.
Remember Death
Sin is so terrible that the wages of it is death (Romans 6:23). The endless parade of bloody sacrifice was necessary to impress upon God’s people their need for salvation from the horror that is their sin. The most horrific example of our need for salvation is in the cost of our redemption. The precious blood of the Son of God was necessary to save mankind from our sins!
From the day sin entered the world, mankind has tried to downplay and hide our sin. Adam and Eve attempted to cover their shame with leaves. Then they hid from God. When he confronted them, they both attempted to blame someone else for it. When Cain was confronted for murder, he tried to play off the question of where his brother was with the question “am I my brother’s keeper?”
Throughout history, people have tried to downplay the severity of our sins. “It’s not hurting anyone.”, “This thing someone else did was worse.”, etc… Cultures actually celebrate their pet sins. Yet, in doing so, we forget the lesson taught in blood that can be found throughout both the Old and New Testament. Sin is the enemy of life and the cost is far too steep for the level of indifference we hold regarding sin.
Even in the church, sin is downplayed as if it “doesn’t matter” because of the sacrifice of Christ. That very sacrifice is the most extreme lesson in exactly why sin does matter! To say that sin isn’t a big deal is to say that his suffering was insignificant!
While we certainly need to be careful to not go speck hunting for others while blinded by our own log (Matthew 7:3) we cannot be a people who fails to recognize the weight of sin. To do so would be to lowly esteem our Lord. He poured out his blood, his life, for the sins of the world. They’re not insignificant. They are horrific! May we remember the lesson written in blood through the ages of just how horrible.
