In my last post, I wrote about the enormity of the emphasis placed on the blood of bulls, goats, and lambs in the Old Testament. The amount of blood that was shed every day, beginning with Adam and Eve who were clothed in animal’s skins (which involved the shedding of blood), all the way to the coming of Jesus Christ was an enormous price for God’s people.
In Genesis 4:26 we read of Adam and Eve having another son whom they called Seth. Seth’s first born was called Enos, “Then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.”
This is very significant because usually calling upon the name of the Lord involved building altars and sacrificing the life blood of lambs, bulls, and goats. All the blood that flowed from Old Testament altars cannot be estimated in price. It all pointed to the priceless value of the one supreme sacrifice whose atoning blood ended all the vast rivers of blood shed on Old Testament altars.
Matthew 26:26-28: “And as they were eating Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Mark 14:23: “And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.”
John 6:53-57: “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.”
When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they had to eat all the lamb, including the internals. These days the Jews only partake of the shank portion of the leg of the lamb.
However, we who believe in Christ, are to partake of His head (His mind and His vision), His hearing, His speech, His internals (bowels of mercies), His heart of love and compassion, His legs (to walk as He walked), and His hands to be our hands of welcome, love, embrace, and healing.
This is all because of Jesus’ shed blood.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell