Work of Christ
Not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12 If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1
The smell of meat cooking and the sizzle of steak blood on the grill are, at least to the author, unforgettable smells. I cannot imagine a smell like that wafting about the sanctuary mid-worship service. Old Testament Israel, however, could, for it was part of God’s ceremonial law to perform burnt offerings.
Another thing I could never imagine is taking lambs’ blood in a cup, dipping a brush in the cup, and splattering the blood on the congregation, waving the brush in the air. These were different, unforgettable times. The blood of perfect lambs foreshadowed the payment needed to save you. The smell of cooking meat, a pleasant aroma,
foreshadowed the Father being pleased with us through the sacrifice of His Son. And the blood sprinkled on the congregation (perhaps the most unforgettable of the images) foreshadowed the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. His blood covers us and sanctifies us.
It was the Levitical priests who assigned to perform all these tasks back then, but your pastors and lay leaders today are not performing these functions, for they are no longer needed. Why? Jesus Christ is the ultimate High Priest. He only needed to sacrifice one lamb to pay for sin—His innocent self on the cross. He only needed to sprinkle one kind of blood on us—His own, as He cleanses us with His perfect blood and righteousness. He only needed to create one sweet smelling aroma—His perfect life and innocent death for you and me. The Father shows His favor to you because Jesus is risen and ascended.
Jesus, my great High Priest, Offered His blood and died;
My guilty conscience seeks no sacrifice beside.
His pow’rful blood did once atone,
And now it pleads before the Throne.
The Lutheran Hymnal 220:1