Mike Seale
“For the life of all flesh is its blood: you must not eat the blood of any living thing because the life of every living thing is its blood; anyone who eats it will be cut off,” (Lev. 17:14).
The first time I ever saw an animal drained of its blood was on a deer hunt. Strung up by its hind legs, throat slit, and blood pouring out. Though normal to many, I was really taken aback as an eleven year old boy. But, as all hunters know, draining the blood is essential.
Draining blood out of an animal for sacrifice in the O.T. was also part of the process to forgive sins. At times it was sprinkled before the LORD seven times in front of the curtain, put on the horns of the alter and the rest poured out at the base of the alter. The “life of the flesh” was being poured out.
Paul writes, “GOD set forth [Jesus] to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith to declare GOD’s righteousness for the remission of our sins…”(Rom.3:25).
The word “propitiation” (Greek-hilasterion) relates to appeasing (to pacify by giving to the demands, to satisfy). The demand for sin is death, the life of the sinner. If the “life of the flesh is in the blood,” then blood being poured out is the same as that life being given. The blood of the animal, the life of the animal expiated (satisfied, appeased, made amends) for the wrongdoing or guilt. It suffered and paid the penalty.
We sing about it in our hymns. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” “There’s power in the blood, power in the blood…”
The blood of Jesus is our propitiation “through faith” and it appeased GOD’s demand for our sin. His life blood was poured out for me! Be blessed today as you walk in the cleansing blood of Jesus.