“Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, ‘ Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.'” (Exodus 24:8, NLT).

After God had given the terms of the covenant to Moses, Israel agreed to its terms (vs. 3), which was then ratified in several ceremonial activities. These activities included the formal writing and reading of the covenant (vs. 4, 7), the splattering of blood (vs. 6), a covenant meal (vs. 11), and the appearing of the glory of the Lord on the mountain (vs. 15).

The Hebrews writer compared the confirmation of the covenant with the execution of a will. Just as a will goes into effect at the death of the person who made it, the covenant required the death of an animal to go into effect (Hebrews 9:16-18).

Then, referencing this verse, the Hebrews writer explained the efficacy of blood to atone for sin: “For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you. And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:19-22).

The Hebrews writer explains that by His blood sacrifice on the cross, Jesus became the mediator of a new and better covenant. Because He is the Son of God, the God/Man, His sacrifice was once and for all time an atoning sacrifice to take away the sins of all the world!

At the Last Supper Jesus predicted His atoning sacrifice before it happened by repeating this verse from Exodus almost verbatim when He said, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant” (Matthew 26:28). There is power in the blood of Jesus: power to atone for the sins of the whole world once and for all time.

Since the covenant of God with humanity has been confirmed by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, all you have to do now is agree to its terms: believe in Him and accept that He has atoned for you and your sins and you can enter into an eternal covenant relationship with the Holy God and Creator of the universe!

For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. (Leviticus 17:11, NLT)