Today's Reading: Leviticus 17:10-16

Leviticus 17:11 (ESV) "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life."

A shrill scream from the other room alerted me to bring the bandages because blood had been spilled. My then 2-year-old son had sliced his chin open, a wound worthy of a set of stitches. Moms of young children deal with bodily fluids daily, but when blood is a part of the drama, things escalate. The sight of blood reminds us of the fragility of life.

To the Israelites, blood was a part of everyday life. Blood was necessary for the covering of sins in the old covenant. Neighboring nations followed pagan practices that also included the sacrificing of animals, sometimes even eating the blood itself. But eating blood from sacrifices was prohibited in Scripture due to the idolatry involved. (Ezekiel 33:25-26; 1 Corinthians 10:20-21) This regulation pertained to everyone in Israel — including foreigners. (Leviticus 17:12)

In Leviticus 17, often referred to as a chapter on the "Holiness Code,"Moses laid out God's command that forbade His people from eating blood from sacrifices. (Leviticus 17:10) Blood is sacred because it is the source of life. (Deuteronomy 12:23) God made a way for the blood of a substitutionary sacrifice to cover sins, but this blood should never be handled in a casual manner.

"The life of every creature is its blood" (Leviticus 17:14), and variations of this phrase, occurs multiple times in this chapter, and the term "blood" — or in Hebrew, dām — appears 88 times in Leviticus alone, highlighting the significance of blood being the basis of life. Nothing but the precious blood of a sinless lamb could pay the cost of breaching God's law. But animal sacrifices only temporarily covered one's sins.

Today the Old Testament sacrifices are fulfilled in and through Christ. (Matthew 5:17) His blood purifies us: " It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible" (Leviticus 17:11c; NLT).

With the backdrop of Leviticus 17, Jesus made a statement to His followers that they needed to drink His blood to have "life" (John 6:53). This seems to be in direct violation of Leviticus 17:10-11. However, Jesus' statement was a spiritual one. In John 6:53, Jesus alluded to the Passover, comparing the redemption of the old covenant to the redemption in the new covenant, and also foretelling the Communion we celebrate today — Jesus is our Passover Lamb, offering His blood in exchange for ours. (1 Corinthians 5:7) As we drink from the cup, it is a reminder of the cost Christ paid to redeem us. Nothing perishable could ever satisfy the eternal. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

If I'm honest, I still don't like the sight of blood, but it reminds me that our greatest need is not physical. Though bandages might temporarily cover a wound, nothing but the precious blood of Christ can offer eternal healing and forgiveness for our souls. (Hebrews 9:22)

Prayer: Jesus, Your precious blood has cleansed me and set me free. Help me never to forget the high cost of Your blood You have poured out on me. In Jesus' name, amen.