The Shedding of Blood

Ezek 45: The picture of the shed blood begins in Exodus as a picture of God’s overarching protection. Ezekiel is told that in the future, the priests will reinstitute that practice, and it mirrors that of Exodus 12, where the angel of death would see the shed blood and pass over the household on the night of the last plague where the death of the firstborn of Egypt would be taken. The Hebrews author reminds his audience that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. [Heb 9:22] Christ was the completed fulfillment of this when He shed His blood on the cross for the payment of our sins.

If Christ fulfilled this through the shedding of His blood, why then is it then reinstituted? Perhaps to remind us of our sinfulness and the price that had to be paid. Surely, this should stop us and remind us of the night in which He was betrayed. He then said: “this is the cup of the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink of it in remembrance of me.” [1Cor 11:25] Take heed, beloved, as you partake and seek cleansing of your sins and the price paid

The Cost of Shed Blood

The next time you purchase meat at the market stop and think what that cost not in monetary terms but in terms of life.

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Leviticus 17 “There is no Room for Compromise”

At certain seasons of the year, men go deer hunting. When a deer is killed the animal is hung to drain it of its blood. Blood represents the essence of life and therefore is to be protected. Men must not eat the blood of any animal.

In Genesis 9:6 we read: “Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans must his blood be shed, for in God’s image God has made humankind.” So we go from the taking of a human life to the eating of the life of an animal. In both, blood is life, it is sacred to God. The shedding of blood represents the taking of a life and then to partake of that life is anathema to God.

Leviticus 17: 11 “for the life of every living thing is in the blood.”

Thus God established these prohibitions for our protection. We are to be holy, set apart from the idolatrous nations that are around us.  We may not live in the wilderness but the prohibitions remain the same.

Stop and consider:

It was our Savior’s blood, his very life that was shed for us on that cruel cross.

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