And according to the Law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Hebrews 9:22-23)

It Was Necessary

Blood is essential for life. Without blood, life cannot survive. Following the flood, the Lord told Noah that life is sanctified in the blood because men are made in the image of God. Many animals have blood, but no creature is made in the image of God but man. Killing an animal is not murder but killing a man is an abomination before God. Before Christ, blood was used as the sacrificial offering for the sins of those under the Law of Moses. Untold numbers of bulls, goats, sheep, and oxen were slaughtered, and their blood poured upon the altar to appease the wrath of God. After all the blood that was shed by animals, sin still had not been defeated.

God commanded the offering of animals in the Law of Moses. Without blood, nothing was purified. The High Priest garments were stained with the centuries of sacrificial blood offered to atone the sins of the people as a reminder that nothing could wash away the defilement of sin. In those sacrifices, there was a reminder of sins every year. The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins, although their blood was used to atone the people. Blood was the central image of the Law, but something was lacking.

The purpose of animal sacrifice was to impress upon the hearts of the Jews the sanctity of life. Something had to die so the people could live. Animals are sacred to the Creator and using them as a sacrifice was not without cause. Their blood was used to atone the people, but the problem lay in the reality that animals were not made in the Divine’s similitude. Only man’s blood would establish the reality of sin and the price required to pay for redemption. But human sacrifice was an abomination to the Lord. Under the Law, only animals without blemish were to be sacrificed. The problem with finding a man who had no sin was evident. There was never a man who did not battle sin and allow its corruption to defile them. Every man was blemished and forbidden to be offered as a sacrifice.

It was necessary for the blood of bulls and goats to be offered, seeking atonement for man’s sins because that was the will of God. However, because of its failure, there was a greater necessity to redeem man with the blood of a person who was without blemish. This person must be sinless. From Adam to Moses and David and all the great saints of God who lived righteous lives, no one was innocent. Therefore, the Son of God needed to take man’s form and shed His blood as an offering without blemish. It was required for the blood of Jesus to redeem man from sin. The death of Jesus was not a mistake. His sacrifice was a necessary part of saving men from the wrath of God.

For more than thirty years, Jesus suffered in the flesh resisting sin and battling Satan at every corner so that He could offer His blood for the redemption of humanity. He knew His death was necessary. It was a requirement to save men. Nothing could take the place of the blood of Jesus. As He faced the cross, He knew what He must do was necessary. His suffering was all that stood between man and God. In His agony, the Son of God cried out with the realization that His blood would redeem men. Thank God for what became necessary for His Son to endure. Thank God.