- Blood will make Atonement
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in he blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Blood makes atonement for us and forgives our sins, because the life of the flesh is in the blood. The blood sacrifices of bulls, goats, heifers and lambs makes atonement for the soul by sign and symbol in that it points to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world by His once for all sacrifice on the cross. Shedding blood equals dying. When one bleeds out he dies. When one keeps his blood flowing and active he is alive. The sacrificial animal sacrifices his life for the worshiper’s life, to forgive his sins, make atonement with God, and give life in place of death to the soul. When we see the blood we are reminded of life and death. Sin brings death. Forgiveness of sins brings life.
We see life and death in the blood. The life is in the blood; death is in the loss of blood. Seeing a person bleed to death is abhorrent. But so also is sin, and we need to see it in just the same way. Sin and death are graphically portrayed in the animal blood sacrifices. We are made the feel the horror of sin and the terror of death when we see the blood of the sacrifice.
When we see the shed blood and death of Christ on the cross we should also feel terrible about our own sins, laid upon Him, and at the same time we should feel exuberant joy about the forgiveness and life that is earned for us and given to us. When we see the blood we see the love of God.
The promise that comes through the sacrifice of the Son of God is that the blood makes atonement for our souls. Atonement is the reconciliation of a ruptured relationship, the restoring of a broken intimacy. Our soul is separated from God because of sin. When Jesus’ blood is shed forgiveness replaces sin, life replaces death, salvation replaces condemnation, and union with God replaces isolation. We are no longer alienated and alone, but we are reconciled with our loving God and Father. The promise of blood/life: you will be together with God now and forever.