ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Pulelulu Ma’asi 29, 2023

The Blood of the Covenant  דם הברית 

KO E TOTO ‘O E FUAKAVA

EXODUS 24:8

MOSES TOOK THE BLOOD AND THREW IT ON THE PEOPLE AND SAID, "BEHOLD THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT THAT THE LORD HAS MADE WITH YOU IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL THESE WORDS."

‘EKISOTO 24:8

Pea to‘o ‘e Mōsese ‘a e toto, ‘o ne afuhi ‘aki ‘a e kakai, ‘o ne pehē, Ko e toto fuakava eni, ‘a e fuakava kuo fai ‘e Sihova mo kimoutolu ‘i he funga ‘o e ngaahi lea ni kotoa.

This is the only time blood is sprinkled on the Israelites. The closest parallel is at the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests, when blood is daubed on their ears, thumbs, and big toes (29:20). Since "the life of the flesh is in the blood," and that blood "makes atonement" (Lev. 17:11), God is literally sprinkling life and atonement on his people. By blood, he is making them a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exod. 19:6). This dam ha-b'rit ("blood of the covenant") cements them to himself as his chosen people. 

When Jesus gives his disciples the cup on his final Passover, he says, "this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matt. 26:28). The parallel is unmistakable. Rather than sprinkling blood on us externally, Christ sprinkles his blood inside us as we drink from his cup, so that "our hearts [are] sprinkled clean from an evil conscience" (Heb. 10:22); we are given the life of God, ordained as his kingdom of priests (1 Pet. 2:5, 9), and made part of the new covenant of God's chosen people (Heb. 12:24).

Sprinkle our hearts with your blood, O Christ, that we may be clean and forgiven, ready for service.