REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD - PART 2

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

Redemption Through His Blood - Part 1

S. Sekou Abodunrin

Note - To appreciate the intricacies of what Jesus did, I encourage you to read the whole of Leviticus 16

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

The preaching of the cross is the power of God unto the believer. It is therefore sensible to ask, “What is the meaning of the term the preaching of the cross?”

It is clear that no Christian really believes that there is any power in the cross as an object. This is because there was nothing holy or solemn about the cross in itself. The Romans who were the world rulers at that time hung many people on crosses. It was just pieces of wood - A dead tree.

On the day that Jesus was crucified there were criminals crucified with him on the cross at the same time and in the same location. Therefore it is obvious that the cross in itself was not special. Jesus could have hung on any of those crosses. The preaching of the cross then really means preaching of the one who was nailed to the cross. This would mean that the term 'preaching of the cross' is a portable way of summarizing the gospel.

Now, notice that the bible does not say that the cross is the power of God for it isn't! It says the preaching of the cross is the power of God. There is a difference between the cross and the preaching of the cross. We know this to be consistent because elsewhere he says that it is the gospel, and not the cross, that is the power of God unto salvation [Rom 1.16].

This manner of speaking therefore needs to be unpacked in order for the student of the word to appreciate the wealth of meaning it is designed to convey.

Some, placing emphasis on the word 'cross', believe that the phrase preaching of the cross means that Jesus came to the earth, shed His blood on the cross and once that blood was shed at the cross salvation was obtained for man. Is this so?

In many minds the reason why we are no longer in our sins is because His blood was shed at Calvary.

Is the cross the finishing place for man’s redemption?

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 19.30

When on the cross, Jesus uttered, “It is finished” something of deep significance had transpired. This profound statement from Jesus lends support to the thinking that redemption was finished on the cross. We must understand what it was that has finished. It seems to many that by saying “it is finished” he had at that point done all that was required for the salvation of man.

What does it then mean, when he said, “it is finished”? What is it that had finished?

First, let us state the basics. Jesus identified with man who was separated from God by becoming a man himself, He then became sin for us, and so He died the death that was due this estranged man, therefore when Jesus died He died apart from God. He in effect goes to hell and was raised from this death by the father.

Many maintain that once His blood flowed from his body the redemption of man was obtained.

In the western mind, this shedding of blood refers to the blood that poured from his body at the cross.

The undisputable fact is that on record, blood was shed from Jesus' body at least 5 different times – the first time will be during his circumcision as an 8-day old child, the second would be in the garden of Gethsemane, the third will be when He was scourged by the soldiers, the fourth will be when the crown of thorn was placed on his head and the fifth will be on the cross.

If shedding of blood means blood pouring from his body then our redemption was obtained when he was an 8-day-old child! We can understand what shedding of blood means because it is a term borrowed from Israel’s temple ceremonies.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24: 25 – 27

The background is that Jesus had been dead for three days. These disciples were talking about the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus joins in on their conversation and shows them that it was necessary for Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory.

Since Jesus starts from Moses to explain about the things concerning him we can therefore find clear illustrations of Christ’s sufferings and glory in the temple rituals of ancient Israel.

This is greatly illustrated on the Day of Atonement.

The book of Hebrews unpacks this beautifully.

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9.12

It is important to note that Jesus did not shed his skin for us. What he shed was his blood. You need to realise that there is just one blood [Acts 17.26]. There are many skin colours, but just one blood. The reference to “blood of goats and calves” take us into the heart of proceedings on the Day of Atonement.

Jesus does not go through the annual rituals of the Day of Atonement, which is based on the blood of bulls and goats. This is what is meant by “not through the blood of bulls and goats”. This contains staggering facts for we are told that Jesus who died on the cross and was buried is now said to enter into the holy place by His own blood. There is no metaphor involved here. It is to be understood that He entered into the holy place in reality.

Ordinarily all through the word of God, the holy place refers to the holy of holies in the Jerusalem temple. If it was this holy place, there were divinely appointed officers that ministered the blood of animals in it.

Never had the blood of a human been offered in the holy place on earth. In fact if any other blood than that of animals is offered in the earthly temple it will be unscriptural! Since we are told that it was not blood of goats and calves that was offered in this holy place in Hebrews, we are to understand that this is the holy place in heaven that is spoken of here.

He entered through His own blood.

Where did He enter? He entered the holy place in heaven.

What did He obtain when He entered? He obtained eternal redemption for us.

This is loaded language. In order for Jesus to enter by His blood He would first have to have died. In addition, in order for Him to enter heaven, He had to have been raised from the dead. We know that he did not rise from the dead until 3 days after His death. Therefore this event did not take place while he was on the cross.

We understand that something was 'finished' when Jesus said “it is finished”, but it was not the redemption of man.

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

We know that it was not redemption that was accomplished when Jesus said, “it is finished” because the bible emphatically states that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.

We are told that Jesus had to sprinkle the things in heaven with his blood in order to obtain redemption for man. This means that He had to rise first!

It is a legal fact in God’s word that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.

Moses is said to have sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and the vessels of ministry and this is called “shedding of blood”. This idea is foreign to the western mind. Shedding of blood is not just the idea of blood flowing from the body of Jesus.

When Jesus shed His blood, we must understand this bible word the way it is used in the bible and not the way Hollywood will have us receive it. The first shedding of blood occurred after Adam and Eve sinned. God performed the first use of animal blood as a response to sin. God did not just have the animals shed their blood in the sense of having it flow from their body. He properly shed the animal’s blood in that he provided a covering for Adam and Eve ceremoniously. The shedding of Jesus blood was the fulfilment of all the blood sacrifices of the people of God in all ages.

'Shedding of blood' is a ceremonial term borrowed from the Day of Atonement. By this expression it is not just meant that Blood flows out of the animal’s body, it really refers to the act by which blood is taken by the High Priest, and the High Priest alone, takes it into the holy place and applies it ceremoniously.

The term 'shedding of blood' as is used in relation to sin involves a ceremony where the blood is sprinkled on the mercy seat in the most holy place.

Shedding of blood then refers to the ceremonial application of blood on the mercy seat to obtain redemption for the people. A careful study of the Day of Atonement will show that sprinkling of blood was involved but it wasn’t the people that were sprinkled with blood on that day, it was the mercy seat.

In that Jesus is presented as the sacrifice, He has to die, and His blood has to be taken before God as ceremonial requirement for the victim. Since it is said that he entered by His own blood, which is something that only the High Priest was authorized to do, we are to understand that Jesus was at that point acting as the High Priest. Only the high priest could enter the holy of holies and only on the Day of Atonement.

The blood that Jesus presented when He entered into the holy place in heaven is the basis for the remission of sins.

For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26.28

The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of sins. The key is to understand that this shedding of blood is the ceremonial sprinkling of the blood on the mercy seat in heaven. Since we know that He had to resurrect in order to do this we understand that the resurrection was not just a ceremonial proof that Christ had obtained redemption, but it was in fact necessary for the remission of sins to be a reality!

On the Day of Atonement much more than the death of the goat is required.

On the Day of Atonement, after the animal is killed and its blood collected into a basin, The High Priest sprinkles the blood on the mercy seat in the most holy place.

In reality the death of the goat marks the beginning and not the end of the requirements of the Day of Atonement. The vast majority of the transaction occurs after the death of the goat is established.

Peter tells us that Jesus in his own self bare our sins in his body. In order to qualify to bear our sins He must have no sins Himself to start with. In that He had no sins He qualifies as a lamb. He had to be a lamb in order to be able to bear our sin. As He was led to the cross, He went as a lamb. Once He was on the cross however, He became the 'sacrificial goat' that was part and parcel of the Day of Atonement.

On the cross Jesus started fulfilling the role of the goat in that He became sin. After the sin of man is legally transferred to Him He died.

... to be continued