5.1.26 ~ Expanding Our Understanding of Blood, Part 3: A Helicopter View

Blood at the covenant level inaugurates powerful bonds between God and people. Blood at Aaron's ordination transforms one from a common status to a position of holiness. The blood of tzara'at (leprosy) purifies from the realm of death to life, reinstating the one separated from the camp (made holy in a negative sense) into the community of common, living, set-apart people. No sin, no substitution. None of them involve punishment.

Add to that reality that the blood from a sin offering is never used on people—never. These rituals cannot have anything to do with substituting for someone else's death or deserved penalty. And yet, blood remains the most powerful substance in the sacrificial system.

When blood touches people, it changes their status, grants them access, and restores relationships. Blood equals access. That is the pattern! Is that radically different from the story many people hold regarding Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA)? That limited view says blood is the price of sin. It is the currency of divine wrath, representing death, and specifically the death of a substitute. But in the actual Bible—which we read and are supposed to study—blood represents life (Lev. 17:11):

"For the life of the flesh is in the 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."
(Lev. 17:11)

Blood bonds. It brings life. It transforms. It restores. Its existence is not geared toward death and payment. If you have been with me these last few weeks of counting the Omer (day 26 today), you have noticed that I am providing pointers—like a roadmap—with the destination leading to the cross, into the tomb, and beyond.

If sacrifice in the Torah includes invitation, communion, bonding, covenant, and metaphysical transformation—if Passover was always this well-being offering, a memorial, a thanksgiving offering eaten by the people—then consider what the disciples would have heard when Yeshua said, "This is my blood of the covenant" (Matt. 26:28). They would not have heard, "God is about to punish me in your place." They would have heard covenant inauguration, bonding, blood sealing, a new thing between God and people. They would have heard peace offering, a shared meal in God's presence, where the tzadik (righteous one)—the one with divine favor, grace (chen), which we have been tracing—is now going to offer us to eat with the Father. They would not have heard the language of punishment.

Consider this in the context of Jesus/Yeshua: if blood on the people signifies transformation from common to holy, from death to life, then what did the early believers mean when they said, "touched by the blood of Jesus"? As a young disciple, people would always ask me, "Have you been washed in the blood of Jesus?" Even to this day, I still scratch my head wondering what they mean—at the same time, I know what they mean :-). Hopefully, you are gleaning some expanded insights into what His blood means.

Have a great Passover Sheni (Second Passover).

Shalom,
Alan

Watch video: Life Lessons from the Menorah: Unity, Resurrection Power, and Giving Your Best Oil