… and sprinkled with his blood…
Let’s continue with our deep dive into Peter’s opening words. We’ve talked about who and what Peter is and then moved into his description of the people he is writing to. Looking at the key concepts he has included it reads almost like a creed. We who believe are chosen by God, exiled from the world, known intimately by our Father, sanctified and continuing in sanctification to be obedient to Jesus Christ. And then we come to being sprinkled with his blood.
The thought of writing about this is daunting for me. I don’t even like the sight of blood. Yet being “sprinkled in blood” is an important part of Jewish history. It is one of the key prophetic pointers in the Old Testament that foretell the work of the Messiah.
Just as it is important to believe the Bible is exactly like God wants it to be for it to have meaning, it is important to understand that everything in the Bible is about Jesus. And why not? Jesus and God are one. (John 10: 30) From the very beginning in Genesis 3 when Satan tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, God had a plan to redeem a sinful creation.
This shouldn’t surprise us. In “An Absence of Uncertainty” we talked about God’s view of our lives. He sees his Creation as a whole. Time is not a constraint for God. Time is a feature for us. Like gravity, time makes it possible for us to survive and function, but God himself is well beyond the need of either.
The Old Testament has many references to blood and what it means. In Leviticus 17 God explains the importance and meaning of blood:
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17: 11)
In Exodus 12:7-13, the Bible describes how the Israelites are instructed to put the blood of a lamb on their doorframe to protect from the destroyer that took the lives of all the Egyptian’s firstborn. Later, in Exodus 24: 4-8, God has instructed Moses to take the blood of sacrifice and sprinkle it on the people.
Finally, we come to Jesus himself. In Luke 22: 20 (one of several passages) Jesus says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” No sacrifice could ever be more valuable or pure than the life of God’s own Son, Jesus. When Peter talks about the chosen being sprinkled with his blood, he is referring to a red thread that runs throughout Scripture from beginning to end.
Application: Rejoice that Jesus considers our lives more valuable than his own.
Food for Thought: If you had been a Jew in the time of Moses and had been ”sprinkled in blood,” what would come to your mind every time you saw the stains of the blood on your clothes and the clothes of those around you?
Several thoughts come to mind.
1.) Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional, Genesis 12:2–3, The Lord tells Abram, I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, I will make your name great.
2.) The passover mark the doorframes of their homes with lamb’s blood so that the angel of death will recognize and “pass over” each Jewish household, Exodus 12:13, The blood shall be a sign for you on the doorposts of the houses where you live; when I see the blood I shall pass over you, and no affection shall happen to you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
3.) The Mosaic Covenant, Exodus 19-24, the blood of animals served as a covering, or atonement, a temporary appeasement for their sins of the people.
They may have had a favorite, or they may have put them all together and been very thankful to God for His faithfulness and many blessings.
OR Darn, that was my best lamb.
Ron,
Baaaaaaahhhd!
🙂
You might also say that they were “on the lamb” for forty years.
On a serious note, I think the blood would have been a constant reminder that they were all stained by death.
I just couldn’t help that closing remark.
We see God is Blessing, Protecting and Covering their sins.
The OT tells us about many great men of God who were humbled before God and faithfully accepted His will over their own.
On the day Christ gave up His Spirit, the graves were opened and many OT saints were seen walking the earth. Matthew 27:50-54.
These truths support, men recognizing they are stained by death, bowing before God, seeking His will over their own.
Thank you Ron. Great comments. I thought of what Jeff mentioned – it is a reminder of our great need for victory over sin and death. It reminds me that I need a Savior.
👍🏻