Apr. 16, 2008 - Blood sacrifices

There is a video on the web that has recently gotten some attention on a few of the popular Christian blogs.  This video was taken in Israel by some tourist and shows the slaying of a lamb and the shedding of that animal's blood  It was filmed earlier this year.  I just watched the video, and although I do not recommend it for those with a weak constiution, I do feel compelled to post a few comments.

As I watched the blood gush and then trickle from the neck of the lamb, I was filled with overwhelming compassion for the animal.  That sheep committed no crime, no sin, was deserving of no punishment.  He did nothing to deserve the sentence that was carried out.  Yet his death was full of meaning to those that understood the history behind the ritual that was being carried out. 

That said, that lamb's death was in vain.  Those men that carried out the slaughter of the little farm animal believed that the blood that flowed might atone for their sin.  But not even the death of a thousand sheep could begin to resolve the gap between us and God.   Our problem is far too great to be resolved by just routines.  The guy that wrote Hebrews said that "t is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." (Hebrews 10:4)

If the repetitive nature of the killing of sheep year after year after year was all there was, we would be without hope.   But that was the point: one of the purposes of the Old Testament was to put on full display our inability to deal with our sin problem.   But that was not the end of the story.  No, God would not leave us to our futility.  He would deal with our sin problem by sacrificing for us in His Son.  "For Christ also suffered once for (our) sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God" (I Peter 3:18).  "You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers.......with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." (I Peter 1:18-19).

Jesus died once for the forgiveness of all sin.  The blood of Jesus, red and gruesome and horrible to behold, is the only thing that washes away our sin and makes us acceptable in the eyes of God.  No more sheep would have to have to die.

Look, I don't know most of the people that read this blog.  And I can guess that many that do come here for a few chuckles a couple of times a week (sorry if you are disappointed today, by the way).  But know this:  none of your rituals or habits will bring you to God.  Only confessing your hopelessness and trusting in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus will bring acceptance with your Creator. 

I hope that you know and trust Jesus and have experienced the adventure that He brings to life.  If you haven't placed your trust in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, don't wait any longer.

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Addendum:  I found this quote as I was reading this morning:

“Note how often the Scriptures speak of Christ in his glory as ‘the Lamb.’

The multitude which no man can number stand with palms of victory ‘before the Lamb’, and their worship is ascribing ‘salvation to the Lamb.’ They have ‘washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb,’ and rejoice at ‘the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ In that dwelling place ‘the Lamb is its light.’ He who feeds them is ‘the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne,’ and the river of the water of life flows ‘out of the throne of the Lamb.’ The book of citizenship to the New Jerusalem is ‘the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.’

Clearly this is meant to carry adoring thoughts of the cross into our every thought of heavenly happiness. The heir of that joy will never forget that great price. It is the chorus of every song of the saints in light. All heaven echoes with praise ‘to him who washed us from our sins in his own blood.’ ”

- Charles McIlvaine, Preaching Christ