Jerusalem – It’s been many years now since Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on a Roman cross, but his disciples continue to come together in his name. Here in Jerusalem, as elsewhere through out the empire, these disciples are singled out for abuse and persecution, still they continue to gather in ever growing numbers. And when they gather one topic is always discussed. One subject seems to be of overwhelming importance to them; the blood of Jesus. While the rest of Jerusalem adheres to the Law by sacrificing lambs, goats and bulls, the priests sprinkling the blood on the alter and on the people and even rubbing the blood on their own ear lobes, fingers and toes, these disciples of Jesus center their worship on his blood.
Recently a letter arrived from Saul of Tarsus, who now calls himself Paul and claims to be an apostle. This letter is being read aloud in the disciple’s assemblies, and in this letter Paul writes that the blood of Jesus was a sacrifice to God. Writing about how a priest enters the tabernacle to offer blood at the alter, Paul wrote,
When everything had been arranged … the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings-- external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, 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, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Heb 9:6-14NIV)
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at gerrys@christianlight.com
Copyright © 1996 by Gerry Sturgeon
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.