The Bloody Truth

Do you ever get irritated at God while reading the Old Testament? 

Have you heard the story of Uzzah before? Let me paraphrase quickly (read it for yourself in 2 Samuel 6): David was bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem--carrying the 10 Commandments. There were two men that were walking beside this cart, Uzzah being the one to follow behind. Suddenly, the oxen stumbled and the ark was jarred, so Uzzah did what anyone might do--he reached out to steady it. However, God killed him on the spot. 

Honestly, this story has kind of frustrated me in the past. It has always seemed rather obnoxious of God to kill a man just for touching the Ark, especially when he was probably saving it from the dirt and mud that covered the ground beneath. However, lately this story has become of importance to me. 

Blood is required to draw near to God.

I recently read a book called The Explicit Gospel which had a section based on this idea. Author Matt Chandler writes, "Sin if filthy; therefore, sinners are filthy. Consequently, in the Old Testament He kills a lot of people. Sometimes it gets pretty wild. The sons of Aaron try to draw near to Him, and He kills them. The Ark of the Covenant starts to fall over and a man grabs it and God kills him. This was because you cannot be sinful and get near to God. It doesn't work. God's holiness will incinerate you." 

This statement stands true throughout the Old Testament. If we take a look at the Tabernacle (and later the Temple)--where God's presence dwelt-- the Holy Place was the outer chamber where the sacrifices were made. However, the Holy of Holies was just beyond, separated by a thick veil, through which only one day a year the priest could enter through and offer a sacrifice to the Lord. In fact, the people of Israel were so afraid of this day that they would tie a rope to the priest's foot in case anything went wrong and he died inside, so that they would be able to pull him out instead of having to wait a whole year with a dead body laying inside the Tabernacle. This was serious business. The people knew that God was holy, and to enter into His presence, blood would have to be shed.

Scene change, enter Jesus. This is my favorite part! You know how when you hear something over and over and over...and over again, it kind of just gets redundant? I'm sad to say this, but that happens with the cross for me at times. I know Jesus died for me, but it just becomes old news. However, this week I taught at Vacation Bible School at a church in Minneapolis, and I don't know if the students learned anything, but I sure did! As I told the story of Jesus' death on the cross, one part really jumped out at me:

"And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split." --Matthew 27:51

That curtain separated the people from the presence of God. But when Jesus died on that cross, when He died for US, that barrier--that sin--that separated us from God was torn. It's gone. There is no barrier. Christ tore it away. We now have access to God in an intimate way through the blood of Jesus. 

So really, nothing has changed. Blood is required to draw near to God.

Christ's blood.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."--Ephesians 2:13

The holiness of God hasn't changed or diminished in any way. The chasm is still too wide for us. We're still too sinful to be in His presence. But Jesus has made a way, and through Him, we draw near to God. Through Him, we are made holy. 

"So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood."--Hebrews 13:!2

         Listen to "Nothing But the Blood" sometime this week. It's a good one.