THE BLOOD

I recently learned that the blood of a living body can stand as a witness for the purpose or reason to which it was sacrificed or killed. In the same way, the blood of Abel stood as a witness for his murder (Genesis 4:10), so also the blood of the sacrificed animals bore witness to the justification of the person on the grounds of the sacrifice. Think of the Blood as a witness in court. When charges are laid against the defendant (the person accused of a crime) or defence raised in support, the Blood stands as a witness supporting the claims or defence.

After the fall of man, a new legal system needed to be established to bring man back to God and legalize His operations on earth. So God created the system of animal sacrifice, the legal transference of guilt from the person who committed the sin to the animal, by so doing making the offerer in right standing with God.

So the system of animal sacrifice was put in place, the animal died as a substitute for the person offering it and its blood became a witness of the sacrifice.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life [which it represents].”

- Leviticus 17:11 [AMP]

The altar where the blood of the animals was sprinkled was a place of atonement, it was so sacred that people who were falsely accused or needed justification from the law, could find refuge and could be granted asylum by holding on to the horns of the altars where the blood of sacrificed animals were sprinkled (1 Kings 1:50). However, the sacrifice of animals was not enough to bring us back into His presence (bring us back to life). What the sacrifice did was legalize the interaction of God with man. The sacrifice of one animal or a million animals was not enough to completely cleanse us from our sins.

“for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

-Hebrews 10:4 [AMP]

The blood of Christ however was and is more than sufficient to cleanse us from all our sins, the ones committed and the ones we are yet to commit. Think of it this way, if the blood of an animal was sufficient enough for the people of God in the Old Testament like Adonijah to cry for mercy before King Solomon, how much more the blood of Jesus before God? When we fall or find ourselves in the consequences of our disobedience, we must not be prideful but humbly go to the throne of grace to ask for forgiveness and mercy by the cleansing blood of Jesus. And just as the blood of the animals stood witness for their sacrifice, the blood of Jesus stands as a witness to the sacrifice he offered on our behalf (those who have surrendered their lives to Him). So when the accuser arises and tries to lay a case against us for our sins, the blood of Jesus stands as a witness of our Salvation.

But just as in the court of law, there are certain criteria that must be met before a witness can testify in favour of the defence, so also there is a criteria for the blood of Jesus to stand as witness and defense for us before God. We must first surrender our lives to Him, then blood is able to cleanse us of our sins and justify us when the accuser tries to persecute us. Surrender your life to him today so you can draw close to God and be able to bask in his presence.