When I was a child growing up in church, I was so put off by all the bloody sacrifices required in the Old Testament. From Abraham splitting animals in the covenant ceremony, to the blood covering doorposts in the Exodus story, to the many burnt offerings in Israel’s worship services in the temple. So much death! So much blood.
Even as an adult, I’ll admit that I spent years utterly confused (and honestly, a bit bored) when my Bible reading plan took me through the sacrificial system in Leviticus. I’d sigh, I’m glad we don’t have to do that anymore, and then I’d move on with my to-do list for the day.
It wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally understood the point of all those bloody sacrifices: they all point to Jesus.
For thousands of years, faithful men and women worshiped with a deep longing for salvation (Psalm 14:7). Every time a Jewish worshiper brought a lamb to be sacrificed, he or she enacted a colorful prophecy of the future sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Every drop of blood predicted the blood of Jesus that would be shed on the cross. Every gasp as the sacrificial animal drew its last breath foretold the moment Jesus would cry out, “It is finished!” as He gave up His spirit and died (John 19:30).
One sacrifice to replace them all.
Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, forever fulfilled the need for sacrifices. So we now receive forgiveness by the work He finished on the cross. He died once, and was raised back to life so that someday soon, we will also be raised with Him for all eternity. And while Jesus’s sacrifice was necessary only once, we need to avail ourselves of it daily.
While faithful Jewish people would buy their doves or lambs to be slaughtered, we receive forgiveness as a gift from our God, “who is rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4–5). So we come to Him, boldly and confidently, confessing our sins and receiving divine pardon because of what Jesus did on the cross. (1John 1:9–10). We keep confessing, and we continue surrendering ourselves to God, walking in obedience just as Jesus Himself obeyed all the way to the cross (Philippians 2:8).
And we wait…with deep expectation and with hearts filled with longing—we wait for the day when we will be raised with Jesus to His glorious throne. We wait for the day when we will be set free from our nature of sin and death. We wait for the day when we will finally see our precious Savior face to face, the joy of our longing hearts.
“Come, Thou long-expected Jesus / Born to set Thy people free!” We wait for You.
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Rhonda J praying for this whole family ! Kimberly Z praying also for you.
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The readings in John really struck me as very sad today. A sense of sorrow lingers in the words, but I have to believe that even amidst his human feelings, Jesus didn’t see it that way. He knew the greater plan. He knew that he was the promise that had existed since the very beginning. as more than human he could see past the sorrow and the fear that we see as broken, fragile humans. When we look at it from His point of view we see the beauty of the moment in the fulfillment of scripture but also in a forever promise that we will be given hope and mercy by simply showing up to Gods alter, empty handed.
In suffering Jesus learnt obedience (Hebrews 5:8). Learnt, learnt, learnt.. meaning it’s not natural, even for Jesus. In our suffering, we tend to let go of hope instead of holding on to hope. Suffering is a process, same for learning, same for healing from such suffering. Good things take time. May the God of mercy help us in the learning process. God is in the business of changing hearts. Heart circumcision hurts (amen to figurative knife churchmouse), and it takes time…until we get a new heart after the Lord’s own heart. We are being perfected for the King of Glory.
@Kimberley Z: praying for you as you navigate this season. Be strong girl. You got this, and God got you.
@Rhonda J: praying for your neighbour friend & family & baby, may salvation and grace come. What you described was just like in a movie.
@Michelle Patire: how are you doing sister?
Only a few more days until the New Year of 2023 dear shes. What an eventful year, yet God is the same, and the paths He took us to for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:3) are different for each of us. The lessons & reflections you have shared from where God took you have enriched me greatly. There is no debt except the debt of love we owe to one another as Paul says. I am grateful and indebted to you. Thank you for being here … learning obedience through the Word, through joy and suffering. Be blessed dear sisters. Hugs and best wishes to you all.
@kimberly I am