Blood in the Old Testament
The Day of Atonement Blood
Blood Upon the Mercy Seat
Description
On the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place with blood and sprinkled it on the mercy seat—the cover of the ark where God's presence dwelt. The blood came between God's holiness and the law's condemnation. This annual ritual demonstrated that access to God requires blood. The blood did not merely cover sins but propitiated God's wrath. Christ entered the true Most Holy Place with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption, appearing in God's presence for us.
Key Verses
And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat.
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.