City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.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.”

Hebrews 9:15-22 ESV

Reflection

The word “blood” appears six times in this passage (go ahead, count them). Why all the bloody talk? Besides the pain, loss of consciousness, and death involved, what’s the big deal with shedding a circulating connective tissue? Yesterday, Efe discussed how animal sacrifices temporarily atoned for Israel’s sins, but Jesus’ blood atones once and for all.

Jesus Christ is the mediator of the new covenant, His death on the cross redeemed us once and for all, the Promise from the very beginning had been fulfilled (Genesis 3:15). The new covenant is like a last will and testament, only enforced when one has died, the inheritor can receive the gift only when the giver has passed on (in the first part of the Parable of Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-12, the son asking for inheritance while father is alive in Hebrew culture was SHOCKING, even considered hateful). Jesus’ death allowed us to inherit salvation (Matthew 27:50-53).

The Abrahamic covenant was made with the blood of livestock and birds (Genesis 15). After God gave the Ten Commandments through Moses (Exodus 20:1-17), the Israelites made sacrifices after (Exodus 20:24). God established His covenant with Moses with the blood of bulls, splashing half against the altar and the other half (I’m sorry, this is going to gross you out) on the people (Exodus 24:4-8). The author also mentions Moses used water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, these were used in Leviticus 14:1-7 as a thank offering for the cleansing from defiling skin diseases. Red wool represented sin, the soldiers put a scarlet robe on Jesus as a symbol of mockery, not knowing He was taking on all our sins (Matthew 27:27-28). Hyssop was used for spiritual cleansing (Psalm 51:7), a stalk of a hyssop plant was used to give Jesus wine vinegar in His final moments on the cross (John 19:28-29). God knew what He was doing when He made all these rules about sacrifices, it all points to Jesus and the fulfillment of the Covenant. The Covenant required purification with innocent blood, without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Application

The Hebrews needed reminding of the price of sin, and let’s be honest, we need reminding too. Fortunately, bloodshed is no longer necessary as Jesus Christ has already done the work. All you have to do is accept Him and what He’s done.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for being my sacrificial Lamb, for willingly shedding Your innocent blood for me. Remind me to abstain from sin and walk in Your Way. In Your name I pray, amen.