PASSION --- SEALED WITH BLOOD

Without a doubt, the blood of Yeshua Moshiach is the most precious gift our heavenly Father has given to His believers; yet so few believers understand its value and virtue. Many of you will remember that old hymn [Power in the Blood. There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb.] But most of us seldom enter into an understanding of the power of that blood we sing about. If I were to ask you what the power of the blood means, you might answer, [It means my sins are forgiven and I am free from bondage.] That would be true, but beyond forgiveness, what does the blood of Yeshua Moshiach mean to you? Can you explain to me, to your family or to a co-worker the value and virtue of the blood of Yeshua? Let us take a look at a fuller understanding of the preciousness of Yeshua’ blood and how it can work wonderful changes in our lives.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BLOOD IN THE BIBLE:

When Yeshua met at the last supper with His disciples, He made some fascinating statements. [Likewise, also the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the New Covenant in My Blood, which is shed for you.] -- Luke 22:20. Now every time we partake of communion, or at candle lighting times for Shabbat, we are memorializing this sacrifice Yeshua was talking about. We understand that the wine represents the Blood Yeshua shed for us on the Cross but I think we need to understand what led up to this and the significance behind it all. The first biblical reference to the sprinkling of blood is given when the Israelite people wanted to escape the bondage of Egypt. The last plague that YHVH sent to convince the Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave his country was the death of the firstborn son. To avoid the plague YHVH instructed the Israelites on the use of blood. [And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.] -- Exodus 12:22. That night, when death came to each door, if the lamb’s blood was applied to the sides and top of the doorpost, the firstborn would be spared. Now there is something we need to understand here, if the blood was left in the basin, it would be of no effect, it was merely blood that had been shed. The blood had power to save only when it was lifted out of the basin and applied. Now why couldn’t the Israelites have simply laid the basin of blood at the threshold and said, [It does not matter what we do with it, after all, blood is blood.] Suppose they had put that basin filled with lamb’s blood on a linen-covered table or on a pedestal just inside the door? I will tell you what would have happened; death would have struck that home. The blood had to be lifted out of the basin and applied to the doorposts to fulfil its purpose of protection. This blood that was applied to the doorposts of the Israelites was a type of the blood of Yeshua Moshiach. The blood that flowed from the Cross was not wasted; it did not fall to the ground and disappear. That is the blood that is applied to your doorposts, your heart, when you accept Kingship of Yeshua Moshiach. That Blood both removes your sin, the experience of spiritual death and protects you from the attacks of the Evil one. Yeshua’ Blood has not been left in the basin but has been lifted out and applied to your heart. It is waiting to be applied on the doorposts of hearts all over the world. There is another application of blood I want us to look at. YHVH made a covenant agreement with Israel, and when the terms of that agreement were stated the people’s response was: [All the words which Adonai hath said will we do.] -- Exodus 24:3] They agreed to the Covenant of Adonai. Now this Covenant had to be sealed to be ratified and made valid and that could happen only through the sprinkling of blood upon it. [For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people.] -- Hebrews 9:19. The shed blood of the burnt offerings was contained in a basin. Moses took some of this blood and poured part of it by the altar. Then he took hyssop, dipped it in the basin and sprinkled some of the blood on the twelve pillars [representing the twelve tribes of Israel]. Finally, Moses dipped the hyssop into the basin and sprinkled the blood on the people. This blood covering the people sealed the Covenant! It is clear from the passage that the sprinkling of the blood gave the Israelites full access to YHVH. On this occasion it had nothing to do with forgiveness and remission of sin but, rather, with communion. They were now sanctified, cleansed and fit to be in YHVH's presence. Immediately after the covenant was sealed by blood applied to the people we read: [Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: and they saw the Elohim of Israel: and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also, they saw YHVH, and did eat and drink.] -- Exodus 24:9-11. This is simply amazing! These men could eat and drink in the very presence of YHVH, whereas shortly before, they had feared for their lives. It was because the blood had been sprinkled and they understood the safety, the power, the security in that. They did not fear! Today we are in a New Covenant with Yeshua Moshiach; a Covenant sealed by His own Blood. Likewise, today, when His precious blood is sprinkled on your soul, it is for purposes of communion. It is so that you can go boldly, with ease, without fear of judgment, into YHVH's presence for communion. You are given access to Him, with no sin condemning you. You are free to talk to YHVH and enjoy His Company! One of the most important sprinklings of blood was done by the high priest. Once each year he went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement, which means [reconciliation.] This act was meant to wipe away the people's sins, so they could be reconciled and have communion again with the heavenly Father. The priest would carry into the Holy of Holies a handful of incense, a censer of burning coals of fire from the altar and a container of blood from a slain ox. Within the Holy of Holies was an Ark, on top of which sat a flat, golden top with a lip around it. This was the mercy seat, where YHVH sat; it was His very presence. The mercy seat had two golden cherubim on either side, with wings spread over the seat. After cleansing himself in an elaborate ceremony, the priest went inside the Holy of holies with great reverence and fear. He dropped the incense into the fire, causing an aroma and smoke to ascend. Then the priest dipped his finger into the blood and sprinkled it seven times on the mercy seat: [and he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.] -- Leviticus 16:14 When the blood was sprinkled on YHVH's seat, forgiveness of all sins was accomplished and all past sins were covered. When the high priest came out, the people knew YHVH had accepted the sacrifice and their sins were pardoned. Israel never doubted it! Friends, we too have a high priest; Yeshua Moshiach, our Adonai. He is our High Priest not just once a year, but for all time, to the end of the world! Yeshua took His own Blood to the true mercy seat, into YHVH's Presence, the Holy of Holies and presented it for the remission of all sins, for all believers, for all time. It was a final sprinkling! Scriptures says of this act: [neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own Blood He entered in once into the Holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.] -- Hebrews 9:12. [How much more shall the Blood of Moshiach, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to YHVH, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living YHVH?] -- Hebrews 9:14. For Moshiach is not entered into the Holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of YHVH for us.] -- Hebrews 9:24. Yeshua took His own Blood into heaven for us! It is not reserved there simply as a memorial; it is to be sprinkled on all who come to Him by faith!