He Had to Die
I have been reading through Exodus/Leviticus devotionally and have been struck again with the demand for blood. When sins were transferred from the person to the lamb the lamb had to die. His blood had to be spilt.
Also, if the priests were not ordained properly they too would have to die. Either they were set apart correctly through the death of a ram (among other things) or the priest would have to die. The specific verse that hit me this morning was Leviticus 8:35:
ESV "At the entrance of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night for seven days, performing what the LORD has charged, so that you do not die, for so I have been commanded."
My Priest was perfect yet He had to die for my sin. He was ordained perfectly; He was always doing what pleased the Father yet He chose to be the Lamb of God that takes away my sin. What a glorious Gospel this!
I’m also reading through Charles Simeon’s biography. He came to faith in Jesus through examining the picture of the Old Testament sacrifices. For months he agonized in soul trying to make himself acceptable to God. But his guilt was only erased when Gospel faith latched on to Someone else’s perfect righteousness and substitutionary sacrifice on his behalf:
“My distress of mind continued for about three months, and well might it have continued for years, since my sins were more in number than the hairs of my head; but God in infinite condescension began at last to smile upon me . . . [as I was reading about the Lord’s Supper], I met with an expression to this effect – ‘That the Jews knew what they did, when they transferred their sin to the head of their offering.’ The thought came into my mind. What, may I transfer all my guilt to another? Has God provided an Offering for me, that I may lay my sins on His head? Then, God willing, I will not bear them on my own soul one moment longer. Accordingly I sought to lay my sins upon the sacred head of Jesus; and on the Wednesday began to have a hope of mercy; on the Thursday that hope increased; on the Friday and Saturday it became more strong; and on the Sunday morning, Easter-day, April 14, I awoke early with those words upon my lips, ‘Jesus Christ is risen today! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!’ From that hour peace flowed in rich abundance into my soul; and at the Lord’s Table in our Chapel I had the sweetest access to God through my blessed Savior.” (Charles Simeon Pastor of a Generation by Handley Moule, pgs. 19-20 quoting Simeon’s journal).
A short (and very quickly written) poem on “He had to die.”
He had to come, a man, to bridge the way from man to God.
He had to live with us a perfect life to keep God’s law.
He had to die in shame to pay the penalty for all.
He had to rise again to kill the death brought by man’s fall.
Also, if the priests were not ordained properly they too would have to die. Either they were set apart correctly through the death of a ram (among other things) or the priest would have to die. The specific verse that hit me this morning was Leviticus 8:35:
ESV "At the entrance of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night for seven days, performing what the LORD has charged, so that you do not die, for so I have been commanded."
My Priest was perfect yet He had to die for my sin. He was ordained perfectly; He was always doing what pleased the Father yet He chose to be the Lamb of God that takes away my sin. What a glorious Gospel this!
I’m also reading through Charles Simeon’s biography. He came to faith in Jesus through examining the picture of the Old Testament sacrifices. For months he agonized in soul trying to make himself acceptable to God. But his guilt was only erased when Gospel faith latched on to Someone else’s perfect righteousness and substitutionary sacrifice on his behalf:
“My distress of mind continued for about three months, and well might it have continued for years, since my sins were more in number than the hairs of my head; but God in infinite condescension began at last to smile upon me . . . [as I was reading about the Lord’s Supper], I met with an expression to this effect – ‘That the Jews knew what they did, when they transferred their sin to the head of their offering.’ The thought came into my mind. What, may I transfer all my guilt to another? Has God provided an Offering for me, that I may lay my sins on His head? Then, God willing, I will not bear them on my own soul one moment longer. Accordingly I sought to lay my sins upon the sacred head of Jesus; and on the Wednesday began to have a hope of mercy; on the Thursday that hope increased; on the Friday and Saturday it became more strong; and on the Sunday morning, Easter-day, April 14, I awoke early with those words upon my lips, ‘Jesus Christ is risen today! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!’ From that hour peace flowed in rich abundance into my soul; and at the Lord’s Table in our Chapel I had the sweetest access to God through my blessed Savior.” (Charles Simeon Pastor of a Generation by Handley Moule, pgs. 19-20 quoting Simeon’s journal).
A short (and very quickly written) poem on “He had to die.”
He had to come, a man, to bridge the way from man to God.
He had to live with us a perfect life to keep God’s law.
He had to die in shame to pay the penalty for all.
He had to rise again to kill the death brought by man’s fall.
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