Sprinkled with His blood

Hebrews 9:18-21 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. In today’s verses, the author explained how God established the first covenant with blood or with death. The blood of the animal sacrifices was sprinkled on the covenant as well as the people. The image is gruesome. Blood sprinkled on everything and everyone involved in worship.  Do we forget that the blood of Christ testifies to God’s love for us? He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die so that we might have eternal life. On the night that Jesus ate His last supper with His disciples, we read in Luke 22:20, “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’” The life that we enjoy in Christ today is ours because we are sprinkled by His blood.  Listen to Peter’s intro to his first epistle, which, by the way, was written primarily to Hebrews. “To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure” (1 Peter. 1:1-2).  I hope this encourages you, as it was meant to encourage Peter’s first readers. We were chosen by God to obey Jesus, namely, to believe in Him, love like He loves, and be sprinkled with His blood. To the Jews, who understood the significance of being sprinkled with blood required by the first covenant, it clearly indicated holiness—being set apart for God’s purpose. We are sprinkled with His blood, which makes us holy to the Lord. Each day of life we live is not ours; it’s His, and we are receptacles and channels of His love for His glory.