Christ's Greater Covenant - Jesus Is Greater Series #5Sample

No Blood - No Forgiveness  

Thoughts on the Word

The Covenant of Blood

This is an ancient tradition. If a covenant was binding on people, then they would seal the covenant with blood. Blood would be shed and they would sprinkle it on the document—like Moses did. They might also kill an animal and split it into two parts and both people making the covenant would walk between the two halves of the animal. They would walk and step in the blood that came from the animal. This is the blood covenant that God made with Abraham in Genesis 15:17-18.

In each case, the blood declared that covenant was unbreakable.  To break it required blood sacrifice—something or someone had to die.

God is declaring two things here:

First, sin required a blood sacrifice. Breaking of His law required a blood sacrifice.

Second, purification required a blood sacrifice, however, there was one exception provided in the law. If a person was too poor and could not afford an animal, God allowed a meal offering instead. The taking away of uncleanness REQUIRED a sacrifice. (Leviticus 14:21)

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that a will can be enforced only after a death. It was the same for the first covenant God made with Israel. It is the same for the covenant that God makes with us today and the second covenant is enforceable only after the death of an animal—or for us, the death of Jesus.

Prayer

Father, I marvel at Your commitment to us. You not only provided the covenant so that we could come into fellowship with You, but You provided the sacrifice to make the covenant come into effect. What did we do? We received. We did not need to pay the price to have this covenant with You and we did not need to pay the price for breaking it. You provided every sacrifice. You paid every price. You provided every way. What can we say but “Thank You!”. Forgive us when we treat sin so casually and the cost of sin so low. Just because it was free for us does not mean it was not without great cost. But the cost was borne by You. Thank you, thank you, thank you. In Jesus' name, Amen.