“And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people,
for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.
That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood—neither you nor the foreigners living among you.’ “And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you goes hunting and kills an animal or bird that is approved for eating, he must drain its blood and cover it with earth. The life of every creature is in its blood. That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood, for the life of any creature is in its blood.’ So whoever consumes blood will be cut off from the community.” Leviticus 17:10-14 NLT
“With His own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered Himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why He is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect. That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals.
But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.” Hebrews 9:12-23 NLT
As the Holy Spirit begun to reveal to me the significance of blood as it pertains to life both physically and spiritually, and that even the blood of animals has significant value for the life of that animal. I began to reflect on what Jesus did for me/us. The communion elements that we take in remembrance of His sacrifice, and the life that it has brought me/us. Hebrews 9 became even more relevant to me. Sometimes we read the scriptures and then sometimes we have it READ to us. These are the moments when the Holy Spirit quickens us to its truths, and the light as they say, goes on. What’s the first test a doctor performs when we go for a checkup or if we’re ill? That’s right! A blood test. Why do you suppose that is? Right again. The blood reveals a lot about what’s right or wrong in our bodies. There is life in the blood.
Before those of you who enjoy eating rare meat go ballistic, hear me out. Understand that this was written for the Jews and the mixed multitude that had accompanied them out of Egypt. And that God was establishing a set of rules to protect them from, one; sacrificing to idols, and two; as temporary blood covering for their sins. But you must also note that today on the menus of every restaurant, is a warning against eating raw or undercooked meats, meaning; with the life blood still in it. Jehovah rocks!
Leviticus 17 sheds light on why God set certain laws in place governing the shedding of blood. He was even more adamant that we do not eat anything that still has blood present in it. Why? Because there’s life in the blood. Meat was either boiled or roasted before ingested, and blood was only to be shed inside the entrance of the Tabernacle for the purpose of atonement. The blood was considered sacred because in the forethought of God, man’s ultimate redemption would come only through the blood of Jesus, the spotless sacrificial Lamb.
God wasn’t just having animals sacrificed for the fun of it. So anyone killing an animal for any other reason than offering both the body and blood of that animal to the Lord, would be considered no different than a murderer. Leviticus 17:3. He had these rules in place to also, discourage sacrifices to false gods. What do satanist do today? They drink the blood of animals. Nowhere in scripture do we find God telling us to drink natural blood. Satan’s imitation of the Holy is always grotesque. In God’s eyes, blood is always sacred, it represents the sacrificing of another for the benefit of others. The blood of animals provided a temporary covering for God’s people to prevent His judgment for sin, and in essence, brought life to His people. The animals life blood for theirs.
Through the blood of Jesus, the life in His blood, has bought our ransom from sin. When Jesus told His followers these words they were not only offended but confused. Let’s read.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I AM the Bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the Bread from heaven, however, will never die. I AM the Living Bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is My flesh.
“Then the people began arguing with each other about what He meant. “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” they asked. So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent Me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on Me will live because of Me. I Am the true Bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”John 6:47-58 NLT
He was speaking of receiving Him as their vital necessity. Receiving His Word and teaching. He was also alluding to His impending death on the cross. Just as there’s life in the body through the blood in the body, just as we cannot live without blood physically we cannot obtain this new life without His blood. How does blood get released? There has to be a wounding. Isaiah 53. How is the body nourished? We have to eat bread. Jesus was offering them life through both, metaphorically speaking in terms they understood, while interjecting a spiritual truth. They understood the animal sacrifice for atonement. Jesus was now offering a better way. Read the verses prior to the ones I’ve shared. He always uses natural things to tie into the spiritual.
Just as with the woman at the well, she came for natural water, He offered Himself as Living water, quenching a spiritual thirst. John 4. The life that the blood and body of Jesus contained would only make sense to those who believed. Those who were spiritually hungry and thirsty. When life has offered only substitutions, the offer of that which is superior can either be exhilarating or confusing. If we’re stuck in the natural realm, we’ll never appreciate the spiritual. Most of the hearers that day only heard with their ears. But for people like Peter, they heard the Words of life with their spirit. The woman at the well said “give me that living water” even though she was still thinking naturally in the moment, something was awakened in her as she believed in the One speaking to her. Jesus was offering to the crowd a spiritual exchange. The amplified version reads verses 47 and 51 this way;
“I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me] has (now possesses) eternal life.” John 6:47 AMPC
“I [Myself] am this Living Bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever; and also the Bread that I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).” John 6:51 AMPC
As I stated earlier, He was speaking of the ultimate sacrifice He’d be making later on. The door to understanding spiritual things is opened by believing. Whenever faith is awakened, believing follows, and the Holy Spirit steps in and gives revelation. If you follow Jesus’ ministry, most every teaching is prefaced by the word “believe” and I’ve noticed that thread throughout the book of Hebrews as well. There’s more about the blood in that book as there is in Leviticus. Without the shedding of blood, there truly is no remission of sins. There is life in the blood. Whether of animals or humans. This is why God has a problem with meaningless sacrifices, murders of any form including abortions. There’s life in the blood. When a woman or female animals give birth blood and water is present. There’s significance and order to everything God permits. When Jesus’ side was pierced, blood and water gushed out. New life is preceded by water and blood. As in the natural realm so it is in the spiritual. 1 John 5:6
Jesus wasn’t speaking of cannibalism when He invited the crowd to eat and drink of His blood and body, and the Jews knew that. Their law was specific about what sacrifices meant. To those who were offended at Jesus’ words and invitation, they understood sacrifice and submission. He came as the answer to everything they knew about the law. Jesus came while they were still keeping the laws of Moses. He used the manna as an example for the exchange of natural bread and life giving spiritual Bread. It all came down to believing.
Have you drank His blood and eaten His body? Have you received Him as your vital life giving source? Or are you offended by His invitation? His blood is drink indeed, and His body is bread indeed. There’s life in the blood, but true life, eternal life, is only in and through His blood alone.
Jesus I thank you for Your blood and body, poured out and wounded for me. Yes! There’s truly life in Your Blood
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
March 1, 2021
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