Old Testament reading Leviticus 16-18
Leviticus 16 pictures Jesus in the Day of Atonement. Following the sacrifice of purification for the High Priest (vv 3-6), two goats were presented for sin. Distinguished by the casting of lots, the first goat was killed to shed blood and was said to be “for the Lord” (v 8). The High Priest would place his hands on the head of the other goat and confess over it all the sins of the people. Then the goat was taken outside the camp and driven into the wilderness to represent the removal of the iniquities of the people. In chapter 17 we are confronted with the sanctity of blood. Not just the blood of man, but the blood of all things. All animals that were killed were to be presented as a peace offering to the Lord in recognition of the value of blood. Moreover, blood was not to be eaten (v 10). Both admonitions were given under penalty of death. As in the days of Noah (Gen 9:6), blood was identified as being the life of the body and of all flesh (v 11, 14). Jesus can be seen in both goats of the Day of Atonement, as he was taken outside the camp (Jerusalem) and shed his blood for sins of all mankind (cf Heb 13:12-13). The value of blood to the body is also seen in the blood of Jesus providing life to His body, the church (Col 1:18).
New Testament reading: John 12-13
Today’s reading is filled with ironies. Though a thief and betrayer, Judas appears to have had influence among the apostles. John records Judas as the primary critic of Mary’s anointing (12:2), but Matthew 26 and Mark 14 include the other disciples as echoing that criticism. But I find the irony of the plot to put Lazarus to death most intriguing. Rather than believe in Jesus, Whom they knew had raised a man from the dead, they determined to kill Jesus (John 11:53) as well as Lazarus, the one whom Jesus had raised (12:10). It was as if they said, ‘No, don’t believe in him, let’s just kill Him and the man He raised from the dead.’ This thought is summarized in John 12:37. It also explains why Abraham was correct when he told the rich man that if men would not believe God’s word as preached by Moses and the prophets, they would also not believe, even if one were to return from the dead and testify (Luke 16:30-31).
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