Daily In The Word – February 15 – Nothing But the Blood
Today’s thoughts come from the Old Testament and in a book that I have honestly struggled to read. The book of Leviticus has some great information but much of it is mixed in with laws that we struggle to grasp in the modern world. It is actually from these items that I found something that resonated with me and indicated something from God’s word in the past that was fulfilled by Jesus. When I was in Sunday School at a young age, we would often sing the song “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus” which is a great way to think about the purification of Jesus’ blood on all of our sin. It is not as popular as it used to be…perhaps because children thinking about being covered with physical blood (rather than the blood shed to free us) is a bit difficult for some people. However, blood is a very critical thing in the old cultures and even now you hear versions of it (“Blood is thicker than water”). Trust me, Leviticus goes into great detail about what blood is used for in sacrifices to God in the Israelite world. However, one verse was very notable today: “for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible” (Leviticus 17:11, NLT). It seems only fitting that the New Testament portion of my reading (there is always an OT reading, an NT reading, and a Proverb or Psalm) was from Matthew 27 where it talks about Jesus being beaten by the soldiers then crucified. So, if ever I worry about my sin stains running too deep, I can remember that Jesus’ blood made purification possible so I am right with the Lord.