Reader, you might think this a bit embarrassing (or gross, like Calvin thinks), but I've recently developed a wart on my pinky finger. I've forgotten what common warts are scientifically called, but I can confirm that they have nothing to do with any amphibians. Anyways, God uses this imagery of physical "defects" (even though He created all things "good" and knitted us together individually before our time-lines began) to demonstrate His holiness. Ephesians 5:25, the famous Bible passage wives love to quote to husbands (and of which husbands ought to love to quote to their wives), is followed by these verses: (verse 25 quoted for context)
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church
and gave Himself for it;
That He might sanctify and cleanse it
with the washing of water
by the word,
That He might present it to Himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy
and without blemish [fault].
Ephesians 5:25-27
--What does this mean?
Well, while the Bible uses repetition and double-tracked poetry, I don't think "spot" and "blemish" are synonymous. Blemish seems to be alluding to a birth defect, whereas the spot seems to be alluding to any non-genetic disqualifications for sacrifice (a wrinkle, a broken bone, a scarred ear, etc.). And that's precisely what I think the purpose of this language is borrowing from: sacrificial language. Sacrifice usually brings to mind atonement or propitiation--that or appeasing God's anger, or pleading for the forgiveness of sins by the substitutionary death of another. This simply is not the case. For what sin was Abraham asked (mind you, he was asked, not commanded) to sacrifice Isaac? Often recorded in the Bible are sacrifices of thanksgiving, which are actually pretty cool to read. Many people bag on Leviticus, but it is full of party language! God commands His people to bring their food and drink and bless God first, recognizing His primary hand in blessings, but then to have a community barbecue party, full of wine and dancing and singing! Joy is serious business to God, as somebody famous once said.
--Ok, fine. So why the sacrificial language here, of all places, even if it's not referring to atonement?! And what's the deal with your finger? By the way, Joseph, that is pretty gross.
(Actually, I don't think warts are that gross, whether they're blemishes or spots. Proper measures are being taken for its [that is, my wart's] eradication.)
To be very brief, the detailed washing and ceremonial cleansing God commanded the priests to undergo before daring to offer sacrifices (found here, Numbers 18-19, KJV) is paralleled and perhaps fulfilled in the anti-type of Christ and the church (which is called a kingdom of priests, who, according to Numbers 18:20 "shall have no inheritance, neither shall [they] have any part among them [the non-priestly tribes of Israel]: I [the LORD] am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel"), and of which godly husbands can imitate in the preparing and beautifying of their wives as offerings of love to God.
--That still sounds weird. Husbands offering their wives as sacrifices?
Well, Christians all are being sanctified and cleansed [by the word] in order to be offered to Christ as a glorious bride, the New Jerusalem, the church. Husbands, as covenant heads, are lovingly entrusted (as stewards) with daughters of the King.
On a side note, reader, I'd like to make an observation. Being a covenant child is like being born post-Christ: covenant children grow up with the anti-types and do not have to be dragged kicking and screaming to see the connections that all point to Jesus.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church
and gave Himself for it;
That He might sanctify and cleanse it
with the washing of water
by the word,
That He might present it to Himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy
and without blemish [fault].
Ephesians 5:25-27
--What does this mean?
Well, while the Bible uses repetition and double-tracked poetry, I don't think "spot" and "blemish" are synonymous. Blemish seems to be alluding to a birth defect, whereas the spot seems to be alluding to any non-genetic disqualifications for sacrifice (a wrinkle, a broken bone, a scarred ear, etc.). And that's precisely what I think the purpose of this language is borrowing from: sacrificial language. Sacrifice usually brings to mind atonement or propitiation--that or appeasing God's anger, or pleading for the forgiveness of sins by the substitutionary death of another. This simply is not the case. For what sin was Abraham asked (mind you, he was asked, not commanded) to sacrifice Isaac? Often recorded in the Bible are sacrifices of thanksgiving, which are actually pretty cool to read. Many people bag on Leviticus, but it is full of party language! God commands His people to bring their food and drink and bless God first, recognizing His primary hand in blessings, but then to have a community barbecue party, full of wine and dancing and singing! Joy is serious business to God, as somebody famous once said.
--Ok, fine. So why the sacrificial language here, of all places, even if it's not referring to atonement?! And what's the deal with your finger? By the way, Joseph, that is pretty gross.
(Actually, I don't think warts are that gross, whether they're blemishes or spots. Proper measures are being taken for its [that is, my wart's] eradication.)
To be very brief, the detailed washing and ceremonial cleansing God commanded the priests to undergo before daring to offer sacrifices (found here, Numbers 18-19, KJV) is paralleled and perhaps fulfilled in the anti-type of Christ and the church (which is called a kingdom of priests, who, according to Numbers 18:20 "shall have no inheritance, neither shall [they] have any part among them [the non-priestly tribes of Israel]: I [the LORD] am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel"), and of which godly husbands can imitate in the preparing and beautifying of their wives as offerings of love to God.
--That still sounds weird. Husbands offering their wives as sacrifices?
Well, Christians all are being sanctified and cleansed [by the word] in order to be offered to Christ as a glorious bride, the New Jerusalem, the church. Husbands, as covenant heads, are lovingly entrusted (as stewards) with daughters of the King.
It's a bit late, but the intent for writing this post actually came from my father, because he used to gripe that, had we been transplanted 3,000 years ago in the tents of Israel, they would not have let him visit the Tabernacle on account of his scoliosis (Leviticus 21:16-24 NASB). Come to think of it, I wouldn't be allowed entrance either, which would probably bring me great sorrow. Anyways, I always thought it strange that he would think that, seeing how we, as Christians in the twenty-first century, have much greater blessings in that we are called "the temple of the Holy Spirit," that we have the anti-type, the true sacrifice without blemish or spot, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV), and that we are called "His flesh and His bone" (Ephesians 5:30). Plus, one would think the puny Israelites of c.1000 B.C. would notice my father's great height before any curvature of his back, seeing how he would stand at least up to Goliath's chest, and would overshadow King Saul.
On a side note, reader, I'd like to make an observation. Being a covenant child is like being born post-Christ: covenant children grow up with the anti-types and do not have to be dragged kicking and screaming to see the connections that all point to Jesus.
In the city gates of Jerusalem in the present day, as Jerusalem is in the control of Muslims, a graveyard has been planted within the gate that faces the Mount of Olives, of which the orthodox Jews believe the messiah will come through. These corpses are unwittingly serving the purpose of keeping the unblemished messiah from entering the city, thus touching the dead (c.f. Numbers 18-19), becoming unclean, and thus "spotted." The problem with this thinking is that Jesus the Messiah, the Christ of God has reversed these things. Goodness overcomes evil. Light overcomes darkness. Jesus beats death, sin, and Satan. In Mark 1:40-44, Jesus wills and speaks leprosy away. Like, are you serious right now?
And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him,
"If You will, Thou can make me clean."
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched Him, and said unto him,
"I will; be thou clean."
And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
Mark 1:40-42
It shouldn't surprise me that the Logos, the God of the universe, who holds our being together with His word, who saves sinners, could banish leprosy (the classic symbol of physical separation from the community of God's people, and thus, from God's grace), with His words. But it does! Jesus's compassion is greater than my sin.
The Lamb has redeemed the sheep; sinless Christ has reconciled sinners to the Father.
This is the one thing I know.
Jars of Clay "Liquid"
Christians are cleansed by Jesus, the High Priest, who was the Sacrifice, who is the only acceptable sacrifice (in all senses of the word).
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