Leviticus 17

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood. And I have given it to you on the altar to make an atonement for your souls. For it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11).

Is it not amazing how the Bible tells us things which are so true. Life is carried in blood, literally. We know that blood carries oxygen to the tissues. We know it supplies nutrients. It also removes waste (carbon dioxide and acids). Therefore life is carried in the blood. Think of Christ's blood. His blood gives us life (In Him we live and move and have our being). His love gives us energy. His blood takes away waste (sin and uncleanness). God knew all that blood did and all that blood represents. Therefore, to spill someone else's blood was a great sin.

In this chapter, we read that God "turns His face" from those who eat blood and "cuts off" those who touch it without offering. Now think. Remember Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed to God that should there be any other way, that the Lord would take this cup from Him. This tells us that there was no other way, because the cup was never removed. When blood was spilled, it had to be offered. When blood was spilled, it represented life, being poured out, that the blood "makes an atonement for the soul" Jesus had to die. His blood was spilled, but it could not stop there. A full offering must take place. He could not have lived. This would have broken the picture being given here in Leviticus. When blood is spilled, and offering is made. Jesus spilled His blood, and Jesus gave Himself entirely as an offering.

Jesus Christ was the perfect offering. He was without sin, yet He died. He was innocent, desering only life, yet His life was poured out. This is why Jesus' blood saves us. Truly blood is life, poured out for atonement. We owe our entire lives, every drop of it, to Jesus. I am always humbled when I dwell on this. I should not complain. I should not whine. I need simply to be a servant, sold out for Jesus.