Easter is easy to locate in Leviticus . . . just follow the blood. If you have read through the Bible, you may remember Leviticus as one of the more challenging books to get through.
In a chapter near the middle of the book, we find out the purpose of all the blood-letting and sacrifice outlined in Leviticus and other books of the law. Leviticus 17:11 says, ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
The statement, “for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” is a center piece of God’s plan for salvation. Atonement is defined by dictionary.com as “satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.” Had we been alive when sacrifices were being offered in the Tabernacle or the Temple, we would have seen blood flowing from the altar and out of the place of worship. Blood (the sacrifice of life that it represents) and worship are intertwined and inseparable in the Bible. For the worshiper to be able to meet God, it took a lot of spilled blood and the loss of at least one animal’s life.
Formula for meeting with God:
Prepare for worship = spill blood (give up life)
The picture of the sacrifice with the blood spilling out to atone for the sin of the one seeking to approach God was a picture of what was to come when God sent His only Son to be the perfect and final sacrifice. .
Wow. This posting gave such a clear vivid picture. Especially since I was definitely challenged in reading Leviticus recently.
Thank you.
God Bless.