Prophecy of Messiah:

Lev 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Good morning, reader! What a wonderful way to start the day – sitting in quietness and meditating on God’s goodness to us! We do not deserve it but I’m so grateful that He loves me and has forgiven my sins!

It may be difficult for some to comprehend why God would require blood. It was required in the Garden of Eden when God created “coats made of skins” for Adam and Eve to wear (Genesis 3:21). It has been part of the redemptive plan ever since. Why did God choose blood to be a part of redeeming mankind? It all had to do with the giving of one’s life in order to bring mankind back into fellowship with God. All knowing God knew that mankind would not be able to earn that fellowship by their works. Their own works didn’t cut it. After all, Adam and Eve made themselves aprons made of fig leaves. Their aprons didn’t cover the entire body. But the coat made of skins covered the entire body. What a beautiful picture! I liken the aprons to the Jews’ sacrifices in the temple: they could not fulfill total forgiveness. However, the Perfect Sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s blood (the coat made of skins) not only covers our sins but forgives us for our sins! (Psalm 103:12, Micah 7:19)

If you recall, Adam and Eve lived in a perfect environment. They were created to live forever and to live in a perfect world. They were not created to die and go to Hell. But just as it was Satan’s goal for Adam and Eve, it is his goal for all mankind. In order for fellowship to be restored, God laid out this redemptive plan that I mentioned above. We see it throughout the scriptures and it culminates with Jesus, God in the flesh, giving His own blood; but His blood actually redeems those who believe in Him and brings us back into that fellowship with God which was initially intended for Adam and Eve. Revelation 21:3 reveals to us that God Himself will dwell with His people when the New Heaven and the New Earth are created after the millennium! Praise the Lord!

So let’s get back on track and see how the prophecy of Messiah was foretold in Leviticus 17:11. We are told that the life is in the blood and it is only with the blood that atonement for sins can be made. For this very reason, the High Priest sacrificed a spotless lamb and shed its blood so atonement for his own sins and those of the people.

Prophecy of Messiah Fulfilled:

Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mar 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Just as it is life saving when an extremely sick person receives a blood transfusion, so is Jesus’ blood which is given for the remission of our sins. In this case however, it’s eternally life saving. Matthew 26:28 is such a beautiful depiction. Here it says that Jesus gave his life for a ransom for many. Noah Webster captures the meaning of the word as follows:

Ransom
RAN’SOM, n.

1. The money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner or slave, or for goods captured by an enemy; that which procures the release of a prisoner or captive, or of captured property, and restores the one to liberty and the other to the original owner. 2. Release from captivity, bondage or the possession of an enemy. 3. In law, a sum paid for the pardon of some great offense and the discharge of the offender; or a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment. 4. In Scripture, the price paid for a forfeited life, or for delivery or release from capital punishment. 5. The price paid for procuring the pardon of sins and the redemption of the sinner from punishment. 6. To redeem from captivity or punishment by paying an equivalent; applied to persons; as, to ransom prisoners from an enemy. 7. To redeem from the possession of an enemy by paying a price deemed equivalent; applied to goods or property. 8. In Scripture, to redeem from the bondage of sin, and from the punishment to which sinners are subjected by the divine law.

Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary

Oh my word! After reading each of those eight definitions, one can understand the true meaning of ransom and what Jesus did! The price for sin is eternal punishment in Hell burning for all eternity. Jesus paid that ransom, that penalty, for our sins because we personally could not do it (Ephesians 2:8-9). You may have heard this example but it is worth repeating. I commit murder and appear before a court of law along with my lawyer. The judge sentences me to death under the law of the land. My lawyer stands up and tells the judge that he (the lawyer) will take my punishment so that I can be set free. You may wonder why someone would take that punishment on my behalf? But that is exactly what Jesus did! We don’t deserve His mercy but I’m sure glad that He paid my ransom and took my punishment! He paid the price with His own blood and suffered the excruciating pain of the crucifixion so that I can be saved!

Do you know Him personally or do you only know of Him? I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!