The slaughtering of a red heifer was a ceremonial ritual in the Old Testament sacrificial system, as described in Numbers 19:1-10. The purpose of the red heifer sacrifice was to provide for the water of cleansing (Numbers 19:9), another term for purification from sin. After the red heifer was sacrificed, her blood was sprinkled at the door of the tabernacle.
The imagery of the blood of the heifer without blemish being sacrificed and its blood cleansing from sin is a foreshadowing of the blood of Christ shed on the cross for believers’ sin.
6 things that Jesus was to accomplish:
1. Jesus was “without blemish” just as the red heifer was to be. The red heiffer was a cow (unlike the normal bull / ram / goat), which was unique. Jesus fulfilled these symbolism.
2. As the heifer was sacrificed “outside the camp” (Numbers 19:3), in the same way Jesus was crucified outside of Jerusalem: “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood”
3. For the first time in the OT that a past sacrifice (red heifer's ashes) was used to cleanse future sins.
Jesus died once for our sins of the past, present and future. On time for all.
4. Cleansing to be done by man who is ceremonially clean
Numbers 19:9 (NIV)5. Contact with he unclean defiled and contaminated everyone
Jesus bore all our sins (made vulnerable ... as our substitute)
Although he bore our sins ... He remains unblemished, he remains clean!!
6. Sacrifice could not cleanse our conscience
Heb22 - without shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness
Heb22:24 - Jesus as our high priest entered Heaven itself; unlike earthly priests who entered the copy of heaven.
Heb10:1 - law is a shadow of what is to come. Jesus' blood cleanses us of all sins.
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