November 30, 2021 – Exodus 12:5 & 1 Peter 1:19, Hebrews 9:14

Continuing my adaptation of the JesusFilm list of OT prophecies of Messiah and NT fulfillments. God was very clear that the animals brought for sacrifice must be without defect: “The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats” (Exodus 12:5). One of the great sins of Israel pointed out by Malachi was the bringing of unacceptable sacrifices: “’When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor?’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:8).

The sacrifices, in their acceptable form, pointed to Messiah, the perfect Lamb of God. And, so, Peter could write that we have been ransomed “with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19). Similarly, the writer of Hebrews wrote about our great salvation and exclaimed, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14) My, how the OT sacrifices push us forward to Messiah and the salvation he has brought!

Now, my tongue, the mystery telling

of the glorious body sing,

and the blood, all price excelling,

which the Gentiles’ Lord and King,

in a Virgin’s womb once dwelling,

shed for this world's ransoming. –Thomas Aquinas