S. SEKOU ABODUNRIN
Note - To appreciate the intricacies of what Jesus did and much of what is written here, I encourage you to read the whole of Leviticus 4 & 16. Continuation of a previous article [REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD - PART 1]
When Jesus cried "it is finished", he did so not because he bled to death for he did not bleed to death. We are told that he willingly gave up his spirit. [cf John 10.18, Lk 23.46]
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: Hebrews 9:7
There was only one day on which the High Priest could enter the most holy place. On this day, he must minister alone. One cannot fail to see the predominance of the number 1 on this day. This has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus. What he did for you in redemption can only be done once and he has done it!
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Hebrews 9.21-24
Hebrews 9.22 requires that the reader have an understanding of the law. According to the law, in order for purging or cleansing to take place, blood is not only shed, it is applied. This application of the blood occurred in heaven in the case of Christ. He does not sprinkle everything with blood but strictly those things that God commands - This is true in the Old Testament types and the reality in Christ.
It is worthy of note that in all these instances we do not apply the blood nor do we touch or even sprinkle it. In the biblical records, if blood is touched or handled at all it is by the Priest. Jesus has already sprinkled his blood, we are to rest in that by faith.
The Old Testament record of the Day of Atonement is written to give us detailed insight into the mechanics of how redemption is obtained, we know that in order for Jesus to properly obtain our redemption he must be actually made sin with our sin, his death must be confirmed on the cross, and then in keeping with scriptural pattern the remaining part of the drama of redemption must be enacted behind the scenes - This much is plain from the Old Testament scriptural depiction of the Day of Atonement and the teaching of the New Testament.
It is mandatory for the High Priest to carry the victim’s blood into the most holy place. If this is not done there is no redemption whatsoever either in a typical or real sense of the word and everything is but a farce.
We know that when Jesus walked on earth, the legal priesthood was the Levitical Priesthood. The Lord Jesus could never qualify for this Priesthood for he was not from the tribe of Levi. This Priesthood could not fulfill the exact requirements for a perpetual redemption because they were subject to death since they were sinners themselves. Moreover these priests were not authorized to present any other blood than animal blood. Should any of these priests carry the blood of Jesus they would be doing so on presumptuous grounds and like the sons of Aaron they would die. In reality their priesthood had no instruction or commandment from God about presenting any blood other than that of animals.
This means that the Levitical Priesthood had to come to an end for it was not qualified to present the blood of Jesus. Add to this the fact that Jesus’ blood once obtained must be carried into the most holy place in heaven – the question then becomes who could carry it there?
And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Lk 13.32
Jesus also said that he was perfected not on the first day, but on the third! Therefore on the authority of what Jesus said we must conclude that when he said, “it is finished”, what was finished was not redemption. The third day is consistently linked with his resurrection and not his death. He became perfected on the third day by his resurrection.
We know that when he cried out “it is finished” it was a judgement call on the whole Levitical system. Jesus' last words on the cross made the temple at Jerusalem useless for he had fulfilled all that it stood for. Once he cried out, the temple veil was thorn thus confirming that there was no more holy of holies in that building.
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Hebrews 9.8
We understand from Hebrews that by that cry he had abolished the Old Covenant and all its rituals. Jesus therefore nullifies that Priesthood, its laws and covenant by declaring, “it is finished”. By the time the Lord Jesus screamed out those words redemption was in no way complete.
The Levitical Priesthood of that day had 'laid their hands' on Jesus as the goat to be killed. This they fulfilled unconsciously by examining him and putting him forward for death.
Technically, this means that the last sacrifice of the Old Testament was the killing of Jesus as the victim whose blood would later be taken into the most holy place in heaven. Of the two goats involved in the proceedings of the Day of Atonement, one goat, which was to be killed, was Yahweh's goat. This Jesus fulfills when he was made sin.
In the interval between his death and his resurrection, Jesus fulfills the type of the second goat, who was released alive into the wilderness. This was known as the scapegoat or azalel's goat. This is a picture of Jesus despoiling the strong man. [Lk 11.20-22]
The fact remains that up till this point though his death had been secured, his blood had not been presented in the holy place in heaven. The Old Priesthood has been sacked therefore a new type of priest is required to handle the transactions in the most holy place.
If the whole drama stops here man is doomed!
Jesus therefore rises up from the dead and in effect becomes the High Priest that carries his own blood into the most holy place, not on earth, but in heaven.
He rises as the High Priest of a New Covenant with his own blood. At this point he is the sacrifice as well as High Priest. This is an event never before seen in the universe.
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Hebrews 10:20
The High Priest on this occasion wears a white linen garment on the Day of Atonement. This Jesus fulfills when he is raised from the dead in a new garment, which is the glorious body of his resurrection.
When it is said that Jesus went behind the veil, the veil is the veil of his flesh. This expression helps us see that Jesus needed the garment of a resurrected and glorious body in order to enter into the heavens with his blood.
On his way to the Father he must not be touched. This is a perfect fulfillment of the type we see on the Day of Atonement as the High Priest is said to enter alone while the rest of the nation wait outside. This is that third day on which he said he is perfected. It had to do with his resurrection and ascension into heaven to present his blood and obtain redemption. When he tells Mary not to touch him it is because he is on his way into the most holy place as the High Priest. [See John 20.17]
He ascends into heaven and when he sprinkles his blood on the mercy seat like all High Priests he obtains redemption, but this is unlike any other spiritual redemption in human history for it is eternal redemption.
The fact is that the blood of Jesus is not only prominent on the Cross, the way the writer of Hebrews brings it out we see that the blood is prominent in the Resurrection of Jesus. Hebrews concentrates on the operation of the blood where only the eyes of faith can see it.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, ... But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet 1.18,19
The blood of Jesus is precious blood. You realise that in connection with redemption, the scriptures mention 'blood' 3 times as much as 'cross' and 5 times as much as 'death'. The scriptural references to blood therefore are also a portable way of summarizing the very heart of redemption. While the Lord Jesus shed his blood, not all references to the blood are literal. [cf John 6.53 - 56]
All High Priests obtain redemption after the shedding of blood. Since Jesus obtained eternal redemption this means that he will never repeat this High Priestly sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat. This means that this act will never be repeated for it met all the requirements of justice once and for all time.
Unlike all other High Priests he sat. He sat because there was no more to do for he had done all that was necessary to obtain our redemption. Whereas those Old Covenant Priest offer sacrifices continually, he is seated continually thus indicating the permanence of what he has done and the reality of our unassailable completeness in him!
This is shouting ground you see, for this means that I am as constantly righteous as Christ is constantly seated in heaven. His seating means exactly this and nothing less.
Do not forget that it was after the resurrection that Jesus could take the blood into heaven. The first act of his High Priesthood was that he obtained eternal redemption for us.
This whole episode shows that there is a deep link between the resurrection of Jesus and the blood. The resurrection was required in order for the High Priesthood of Jesus to commence.
He then returns to the earth where he tells the disciples to touch him.
... to be continued
Note - To appreciate the intricacies of what Jesus did and much of what is written here, I encourage you to read the whole of Leviticus 4 & 16. Continuation of a previous article [REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD - PART 1]
When Jesus cried "it is finished", he did so not because he bled to death for he did not bleed to death. We are told that he willingly gave up his spirit. [cf John 10.18, Lk 23.46]
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: Hebrews 9:7
There was only one day on which the High Priest could enter the most holy place. On this day, he must minister alone. One cannot fail to see the predominance of the number 1 on this day. This has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus. What he did for you in redemption can only be done once and he has done it!
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Hebrews 9.21-24
Hebrews 9.22 requires that the reader have an understanding of the law. According to the law, in order for purging or cleansing to take place, blood is not only shed, it is applied. This application of the blood occurred in heaven in the case of Christ. He does not sprinkle everything with blood but strictly those things that God commands - This is true in the Old Testament types and the reality in Christ.
It is worthy of note that in all these instances we do not apply the blood nor do we touch or even sprinkle it. In the biblical records, if blood is touched or handled at all it is by the Priest. Jesus has already sprinkled his blood, we are to rest in that by faith.
The Old Testament record of the Day of Atonement is written to give us detailed insight into the mechanics of how redemption is obtained, we know that in order for Jesus to properly obtain our redemption he must be actually made sin with our sin, his death must be confirmed on the cross, and then in keeping with scriptural pattern the remaining part of the drama of redemption must be enacted behind the scenes - This much is plain from the Old Testament scriptural depiction of the Day of Atonement and the teaching of the New Testament.
It is mandatory for the High Priest to carry the victim’s blood into the most holy place. If this is not done there is no redemption whatsoever either in a typical or real sense of the word and everything is but a farce.
We know that when Jesus walked on earth, the legal priesthood was the Levitical Priesthood. The Lord Jesus could never qualify for this Priesthood for he was not from the tribe of Levi. This Priesthood could not fulfill the exact requirements for a perpetual redemption because they were subject to death since they were sinners themselves. Moreover these priests were not authorized to present any other blood than animal blood. Should any of these priests carry the blood of Jesus they would be doing so on presumptuous grounds and like the sons of Aaron they would die. In reality their priesthood had no instruction or commandment from God about presenting any blood other than that of animals.
This means that the Levitical Priesthood had to come to an end for it was not qualified to present the blood of Jesus. Add to this the fact that Jesus’ blood once obtained must be carried into the most holy place in heaven – the question then becomes who could carry it there?
And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Lk 13.32
Jesus also said that he was perfected not on the first day, but on the third! Therefore on the authority of what Jesus said we must conclude that when he said, “it is finished”, what was finished was not redemption. The third day is consistently linked with his resurrection and not his death. He became perfected on the third day by his resurrection.
We know that when he cried out “it is finished” it was a judgement call on the whole Levitical system. Jesus' last words on the cross made the temple at Jerusalem useless for he had fulfilled all that it stood for. Once he cried out, the temple veil was thorn thus confirming that there was no more holy of holies in that building.
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Hebrews 9.8
We understand from Hebrews that by that cry he had abolished the Old Covenant and all its rituals. Jesus therefore nullifies that Priesthood, its laws and covenant by declaring, “it is finished”. By the time the Lord Jesus screamed out those words redemption was in no way complete.
The Levitical Priesthood of that day had 'laid their hands' on Jesus as the goat to be killed. This they fulfilled unconsciously by examining him and putting him forward for death.
Technically, this means that the last sacrifice of the Old Testament was the killing of Jesus as the victim whose blood would later be taken into the most holy place in heaven. Of the two goats involved in the proceedings of the Day of Atonement, one goat, which was to be killed, was Yahweh's goat. This Jesus fulfills when he was made sin.
In the interval between his death and his resurrection, Jesus fulfills the type of the second goat, who was released alive into the wilderness. This was known as the scapegoat or azalel's goat. This is a picture of Jesus despoiling the strong man. [Lk 11.20-22]
The fact remains that up till this point though his death had been secured, his blood had not been presented in the holy place in heaven. The Old Priesthood has been sacked therefore a new type of priest is required to handle the transactions in the most holy place.
If the whole drama stops here man is doomed!
Jesus therefore rises up from the dead and in effect becomes the High Priest that carries his own blood into the most holy place, not on earth, but in heaven.
He rises as the High Priest of a New Covenant with his own blood. At this point he is the sacrifice as well as High Priest. This is an event never before seen in the universe.
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Hebrews 10:20
The High Priest on this occasion wears a white linen garment on the Day of Atonement. This Jesus fulfills when he is raised from the dead in a new garment, which is the glorious body of his resurrection.
When it is said that Jesus went behind the veil, the veil is the veil of his flesh. This expression helps us see that Jesus needed the garment of a resurrected and glorious body in order to enter into the heavens with his blood.
On his way to the Father he must not be touched. This is a perfect fulfillment of the type we see on the Day of Atonement as the High Priest is said to enter alone while the rest of the nation wait outside. This is that third day on which he said he is perfected. It had to do with his resurrection and ascension into heaven to present his blood and obtain redemption. When he tells Mary not to touch him it is because he is on his way into the most holy place as the High Priest. [See John 20.17]
He ascends into heaven and when he sprinkles his blood on the mercy seat like all High Priests he obtains redemption, but this is unlike any other spiritual redemption in human history for it is eternal redemption.
The fact is that the blood of Jesus is not only prominent on the Cross, the way the writer of Hebrews brings it out we see that the blood is prominent in the Resurrection of Jesus. Hebrews concentrates on the operation of the blood where only the eyes of faith can see it.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, ... But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet 1.18,19
The blood of Jesus is precious blood. You realise that in connection with redemption, the scriptures mention 'blood' 3 times as much as 'cross' and 5 times as much as 'death'. The scriptural references to blood therefore are also a portable way of summarizing the very heart of redemption. While the Lord Jesus shed his blood, not all references to the blood are literal. [cf John 6.53 - 56]
All High Priests obtain redemption after the shedding of blood. Since Jesus obtained eternal redemption this means that he will never repeat this High Priestly sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat. This means that this act will never be repeated for it met all the requirements of justice once and for all time.
Unlike all other High Priests he sat. He sat because there was no more to do for he had done all that was necessary to obtain our redemption. Whereas those Old Covenant Priest offer sacrifices continually, he is seated continually thus indicating the permanence of what he has done and the reality of our unassailable completeness in him!
This is shouting ground you see, for this means that I am as constantly righteous as Christ is constantly seated in heaven. His seating means exactly this and nothing less.
Do not forget that it was after the resurrection that Jesus could take the blood into heaven. The first act of his High Priesthood was that he obtained eternal redemption for us.
This whole episode shows that there is a deep link between the resurrection of Jesus and the blood. The resurrection was required in order for the High Priesthood of Jesus to commence.
He then returns to the earth where he tells the disciples to touch him.
... to be continued
1 comments:
Fabulous study, thanks for sharing!
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