THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD

In Leviticus, God makes the following statement to Moses, referring to the blood of the animals that would be sacrificed for the sins of the people: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11, NKJV).

The atonement provided by the animal blood pointed towards the cleansing provided by the blood of Christ. Let me explain what I mean by this. The word atonement is an interesting one. Its root is the Hebrew verb kaphar, which means to cover over something. The word is first used in Scripture in Genesis when Noah is instructed by God to cover the inside and outside of the ark with pitch or bitumen. In fact, the verb is innately linked with pitch or bitumen. The King James Version translates Genesis 6:14 as follows: “Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.” The idea embedded within atonement is that something has covered the sin or offense in question with as much impenetrable viscosity as pitch. When the word is used to describe the effect that animal blood has on sin, the idea is that this blood would cover sin with an impenetrable layer, allowing God to pass over rather than judge it. As the pitch insulated the ark and prevented the flood from destroying it, so the animal blood would cover the sin within the heart of the sinner, and consequently protect the sinner from judgment. However, take note that covering sin is not the same as destroying sin. The blood of animals did not have the power to destroy sin but only to cover it, as if a blanket were placed over a pile of dirt.

The blood of those animals covering the sins allowed God to pass over those trespasses, not inflicting judgment upon the sinner, but rather shifting that judgment onto the coming Lamb. When Christ gave Himself up for us—shedding His blood for past, present and future sins—His blood was applied to those sins over which the blood of animals had previously provided a covering. His blood washed beneath that covering—and then did away with the covering itself.

Today, as you and I live in the era following the sacrifice of Christ, His blood has an immediate effect on the sins of anyone who calls upon His name. The blood of Jesus is infinitely more powerful than animal blood. If the life of the flesh is in the blood—as we read in Leviticus 17:11 and as basic biology teaches us—then what kind of life is found within the blood of Christ? Everlasting life! The blood of Jesus does not merely cover over sin but utterly obliterates it. When John the Baptist introduced Jesus, he declared: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NKJV). Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord, their trespasses are vanquished and their spirits cleansed. They are made so clean that they become the dwelling place of the Most High. They will never come into judgment but immediately pass from death into life (John 5:24). This is what Jesus died to achieve for us. He gave up all of His life, and that surrendered life, saturated with divinity, conquered death for us all.

Furthermore, even though Jesus died, death could not hold Him. He rose from the grave victorious and his resurrection was proof of His victory—and the power pulsating within the blood that He shed. Learn more about His resurrection in my next blog, coming soon.

This blog is inspired by my book, “Why Christ Died” which is available for purchase as both a physical and e-book on inhisname.shop.