February 3, 2026 - Leviticus 8-9

The theme of “blood” is found throughout these chapters.  Moses took the bull of the sin offering, killed it, and put its blood on the altar.  Then, Moses killed the ram of the burnt offering and threw its blood against the sides of the altar.  Then, the other ram, the ram of ordination:  Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head and Moses killed it and put some of its blood on Aaron in order to consecrate him along with the altar, against which Moses threw more blood.  Moses was not finished for “Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and his sons’ garments” (8:30) in order to make atonement for the priests.  Still not done, “Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded’” (9:7).  These are powerful pictures of the necessity of blood for atonement and, also, a reminder of the terribleness of sin and the great and horrible cost of atonement and forgiveness, which requires lifeblood.  A couple verses for consideration, this morning:  At the establishment of the Lord’s Supper, of the cup Jesus said to his disciples, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28) & “[Jesus] entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow

that makes me white as snow;

no other fount I know;

nothing but the blood of Jesus.   --Robert Lowry (1876)