“Therefore, not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you’” (Hebrews 9:18-20).
Exodus 20-23 records the Ten Commandments and the Book of the Covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai. To initiate this covenant, “Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the Lord has said we will do.’ And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And he rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, ‘All that the Lord has said we will do and be obedient.’ And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.’” (Exodus 24:3-8).
In a similar manner, when God sought to initiate His final will and testament, the blood of the Lamb of God—the blood of the new covenant (Luke 22:20)—was shed. Its crimson stain sanctifies every page and serves as an enduring reminder of the solemn finality of this authoritative spiritual document.
Jesus’ death to initiate God’s last will and testament was not optional.
