I was tempted to skip this narrative, as it doesnt give us a lot of detail. It's just Jesus and a sick man. No ceremony or crowds. Jesus simply healed him and told him to do what Moses had commanded. Those instructions are found in Leviticus 14. There we have a lot of detail and I encourage you to read it.
The basics of it are that several sacrifices should be made, both on the day of the cleansing, then eight days later. They include doves and lambs...and blood. I want to talk about the first one, as it would be most immediate for this man.
This would involve two doves. The first would be killed over a bowl of fresh water. It's blood would fall into the bowl and mingle there with the water. There are differing thoughts as to the symbology here. For me, the one that seem most sefnsible is that this mixture illustrates both natures of the Messiah. The water is spirit, as pictured also in baptism. Into the bowl, the priest would place a bundle of "hyssop", tied with a scarlet string. Then he would dip the second dove into the bowl. Having done so, he would then take the herb bundle from the bowl and sprinkle the mixture onto the person who had been healed. Finally, the second dove, which had been dipped in the blood of the first, was to be released into the open air.
Do you see the picture? One is covered by the blood of another, then set free. And what about that sprinkling? It was necessary that the blood be applied by someone else. This pictures the grace of God, which is given to us freely, through no effort of our own.
When Jesus sent this newly cleansed man to the priest to complete this offering, the testimony of the Messiah would be played out for them both to see.
The basics of it are that several sacrifices should be made, both on the day of the cleansing, then eight days later. They include doves and lambs...and blood. I want to talk about the first one, as it would be most immediate for this man.
This would involve two doves. The first would be killed over a bowl of fresh water. It's blood would fall into the bowl and mingle there with the water. There are differing thoughts as to the symbology here. For me, the one that seem most sefnsible is that this mixture illustrates both natures of the Messiah. The water is spirit, as pictured also in baptism. Into the bowl, the priest would place a bundle of "hyssop", tied with a scarlet string. Then he would dip the second dove into the bowl. Having done so, he would then take the herb bundle from the bowl and sprinkle the mixture onto the person who had been healed. Finally, the second dove, which had been dipped in the blood of the first, was to be released into the open air.
Do you see the picture? One is covered by the blood of another, then set free. And what about that sprinkling? It was necessary that the blood be applied by someone else. This pictures the grace of God, which is given to us freely, through no effort of our own.
When Jesus sent this newly cleansed man to the priest to complete this offering, the testimony of the Messiah would be played out for them both to see.
