These actions would signify that Aaron and his sons were cleansed and dedicated to God. Everything they heard, everything they did, and everywhere they went, they were God’s man. They were to be dedicated to hearing God’s word. They were to exercise holiness in doing God’s will. They were to walk carefully in doing God’s service. They were chosen for a special service and were to act like it.
A similar set of instructions is given in Leviticus 14:14-19,25-28, in regard to cleansing the leper. He was to
bring his lamb for the priests to make an offering for him in which, they would
take blood and dip it on his right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. This
action would be followed by a repeated action using oil. If the person could
not afford the two male lambs, one ewe lamb, three-tenths of an ephah of fine
flower mixed with oil and one log of oil, they could bring one male lamb,
one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a log of oil and either two
turtledoves or two young pigeons. For the poor, the same actions would be
taken: the lamb would be offered and the blood would be put on the right ear,
right thumb, and right big toe, making atonement and cleansing his condition.
Today, Christians are washed in the blood of the lamb. “…Jesus Christ,
the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings
of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”
(Revelation 1:5). The blood of bulls and goats wasn’t good enough to take away
the sins of the world but the blood of Christ, which was offered by Christ
Himself, without spot, will cleans us from dead works to serve a living God
(Hebrews 9:13,14). Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins
(Hebrews 9:22). Jesus’ offering of Himself made possible that remission of
sins. “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for
the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). We have been redeemed by “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).
The offering of His life on the cross made possible our eternal life as it made
atonement for our sins. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
His blood became a propitiation for our sins, that is He covered our sins with
His blood (1 John 4:9,10). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus, who God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith,
to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed
over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present
time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of one who has
faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:23-26). Our sins are covered and we are justified
by the blood of the Lamb.
We come in contact with the blood of Christ in baptism. In baptism we
receive the remission of sins (Acts 2:38); we have our sins washed away (Acts
22:16); when we repent and are converted, our sins are blotted out and we will
have seasons of refreshing (Acts 3:19); we are buried and baptized into His
death (Romans 6:3,4); and we are added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47).
As Christians, we ought to walk even as Christ walked (1 John 2:6). Just as
with the high priest, the priests and the lepers who needed to be cleansed, in
everything we hear, everything we do and every where we go, we will be God’s
man. We should strive to hear God’s word for it guides our way (Psalm 119:105).
We should be involved in godly works (Titus 2:14; Ephesians 2:10). We should
walk in His paths (Matthew 7:13,14; John 14:6; Proverbs 3:5,6).
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? If not, why not?
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