Today we continue the discussion of the Need for Oil in the ceremony of the leper. So far we have seen that the high priest must sprinkle the oil seven times within the ceremony and we have looked at the meaning of the seven times in the "Sprinkling" posts. In the next part of the ceremony, the high priest performs an act that is considered "covering". Let's look at this ritual and how it pertains to us as modern day Christians.
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The next use of the oil is interesting because it was placed on top of the blood. And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering: (Lev 14:17) The priest would take some of the oil and apply it over the blood that the man was wearing in three places. To minister Jesus to a person is the application of the blood of Christ over body, soul and spirit with the Holy spirit received upon the blood. This is the Gospel of God spoken by Paul. That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. (Rom 15:16) This is the reason Jesus has shed his blood to forgive our sins and give us a chance to depart our natural way of life which leads to death. We cannot live a new life unto God unless we are willing to leave our worldly life behind. This unusual exchange of the old for the new life is called "being sanctified" unto God. The only way this will be accomplished is to let the Spirit rule our mind and body.
The oil over top of the blood is called sealing in the New Testament. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13) This well known verse tells us that after we believe in Jesus, the Spirit seals our salvation in the way the oil covered the blood. This is the reason Jesus promised to send the Spirit to dwell with those who trust Him. When Jesus came to earth on behalf of his chosen people, he satisfied the claims of God's law upon us. His obedience to God, even unto death, paid the penalty for sin and justified us for a new life. The use of oil over blood symbolizes how the sanctifying of the Spirit is placed over the foundation of justification and it all was provided by Jesus. Today we think of sanctification and justification as two different things, but they are part of each other.
Paul tells us that he brought the gospel of Christ to the world outside the Jews. For us to be accepted by God we must be sanctified through the work of the Spirit. Notice the sanctifying originally done by Moses with oil: Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the alver and his foot, to sanctify them. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. (Lev 8:10-12) The idea of the Holy Spirit doing the sanctifying was not new with Paul. The old way was very complicated but today we submit to the Spirit of Jesus and our worries are over.
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What a wonderful plan God set in motion so long ago. The failure of man did not corrupt God's plan and He has accomplished every step in a righteous and wonderful manner. Oh, for us to see and learn more every day from His word, to see His perspective and His wonderful ways. Teach us Lord, teach us.
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