Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. – Hebrews 9:22
Animal sacrifice may seem odd to today’s mindset and even cruel. But Old Testament Jews were glad God offered a way for their sins to be forgiven. In addition, the meat of the animals were used to feed their families and the Levitical priests. It could be much worse. Some religions used human sacrifice to appease their gods. God only used these sacrifices to foreshadow what was to come — one sacrifice, for all sin, for all time.
When Jesus was born an innocent baby lying in the manger, only a few knew who He really was and why He came to Earth. When the old man, Simeon, saw Jesus he told Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also) so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed,” (Luke 2:34-35). By this, he predicted Jesus’ sacrificial death. When Mary saw things unfold before her eyes, the scripture said, she didn’t say anything but pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51)
How blessed believers in Christ are that their sins are forgiven without having to slaughter a herd of animals. Isaiah says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” This winter, when you see the snow fall on your location or in pictures of somewhere else, think of your soul being whiter than snow through the blood of Jesus. This Christmas Season, pray for the leaders and people of this nation to repent and receive forgiveness through the blood of Christ.
Today’s Verse: Hebrews 9:22
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Hebrews 9:18-28
18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
