Leviticus, chapter 3

Father God, thank you for the Word. May you give us understanding as we read and share the Word in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Leviticus 3:3 (NKJV)

"And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron's sons, the priests shall sprinkle the blood all around the altar."

Amen, thank you LORD.

This chapter looks at the requirements of fulfilling a peace offering before the eyes of the LORD God. As you read this chapter, the significance of peace in the life of a human being cannot be understated. This shows that when God created us, He understood that peace is important. In this chapter, the animal bloodshed and the fat God's people performed in order to have peace is amazing. However, it was anointed and accepted by God at the time, because He desired for His people to have peace. Today, thanks be to the LORD for giving us liberty through His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ for if the Son makes you free, you are free indeed (John 8:32).

Jesus Himself said, "I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law" (Matthew 5:17). So, the law kept God's children until God's appointed time for the manifestation of His Son, Jesus. Today, we come to God not based on our actions and various religious performances but by our faith in Jesus. Before Jesus was crucified on the cross, He told His disciples which also includes us that He was leaving them with His peace.

At the same time, Jesus made it clear that the peace He gives is not the same peace the world gives. I believe this understanding helps us to know the difference between the peace of the world and the peace that comes from Jesus Himself. The peace in the world is tied to something, a job, an event, people, things but Jesus in John 14:27 (NKJV) says, "Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

An example is Jesus on a boat with His disciples, crossing over to another region and on their journey, they encountered a raging storm. On the face of it, there was nothing in their surroundings and environment to give them peace. But the presence of Jesus' peace was also on the boat with them (Mark 4:38-40). Eventually, Jesus woke up, rebuked the raging storm and spoke peace to the sea . The raging storms of the world must bow to the peace of Jesus in you.

Now that Jesus has come, He said to religious leaders at the time that He would destroy the physical temple and build another temple that was not made with human hands (Mark 14:58). Jesus here is referring to His body that was crucified on the cross, buried and later raised to life again by God.

Jesus Christ is the tabernacle built by God Himself and not made with physical hands. Hebrews 9:11 (NKJV) tells us, "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation." This is important because the temples that were made with hands, even though they house the presence of God could not enter into the Holy of Holies. The same applies to the blood that was shed by bulls and goats as seen in Leviticus 3. As much as it was sprinkled all around the altar, it could not enter the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 9:12). Now that Jesus Christ is raised from the dead, He is seated at the right hand of God. As a child of God who has received Christ, He comes to live on the inside of you and this is the reason God says, your body is now a temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19). With Christ in you, you have direct access to the throne and presence of God. For this reason, Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) says, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Differences between the old covenant and the new covenant:

In the old covenant, where the person offering the sacrifice had to place their hands on the animal before it was sanctified as seen above. Today, in the new covenant, we praise God with our hands lifted in the air (Hebrews 13:15) thanking Him for the victory we have in Christ Jesus because we have God's power working us and through us for His glory. Colossians 1:27 reminds us, Christ, the hope of glory lives in us.

The blood that was sprinkled all around the altar as seen in Leviticus 3:3 is now the blood of Jesus Christ on which our whole entire new covenant life is built. In this new covenant with God, the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed our conscience from dead works so that we can serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14).

Where people in the Old Testament had to sacrifice animals in order to obtain peace, under the new covenant peace inherently belongs to us because we are in Christ. 1 John 4:4 (NKJV) says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

Furthermore, in Isaiah 54:10, God has blessed His sons and daughters with a covenant of His peace. A covenant means a promise that cannot be broken and God has given you an unchangeable promise of His peace. God is love and is no longer into religious rules of relating with His people but a personal relationship with Him that is rooted and found in Christ.

I'll end with this Word found in Hebrews 12:22-24( NKJV)

22. "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, and the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

23. to the general assembly and church of the first born who are registered in heaven, to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect

24. To Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel."

Amen, thank you LORD

Invitation to salvation: If you would like to receive Jesus and be born again into God's Kingdom, that is saved and have a personal relationship to know God as Your Father and you as His child by receiving His Son, Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, I invite you to receive salvation. Please say these words with me:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

GLORY TO GOD, You are now a new creation in Christ Jesus! In case you have not already, please prayerfully consider becoming a member of a church and get WATER BAPTIZED!