December 13, 2022 – Exodus 24 – Confirmed With Blood

Exodus 24, John 5, Galatians 1

There are some churches these days that deemphasize the blood of Jesus. They don’t want to offend people with songs like Nothing But the Blood and the Old Rugged Cross. They believe that most people don’t understand about those things and so those churches are afraid blood talk will run them off. Sometimes, even well seasoned Christians wonder why Jesus had to shed blood to redeem us.

Just because we don’t understand something, doesn‘t mean we can discount it. There are many things in Scripture that we don’t understand and that is inevitable because we are finite and God is infinite. We cannot completely understand God because of our human limitations.

In Exodus 24, Moses is ratifying the covenant between God and the people. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus24:7–8NIV

There is no in-depth explanation in the Old Testament as to why God required blood to ratify a covenant. If you want to look at another example of a blood covenant, check out the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 15.

In the New Testament we hear these words of Jesus as he gathered to celebrate the Passover with his disciples. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew26:26–28NIV

Covenants ratified by blood were serious. We don’t completely understand why God required blood, but we do know one thing from the example of the covenants God made with the Israelites in Exodus 24, with Abraham in Genesis 15, and in all of his other covenants. God is faithful and keeps the promises he makes in his covenants. That is Good News for us! Our sins, though many, were forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ that was poured out for us!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, there are many things about the faith that I do not understand, but I am thankful to know one thing for sure! The blood of Jesus washed away all of my sins. Thank you Jesus for shedding your blood to ransom and redeem a sinner like me! Amen.