Living Sacrifices
December 30th, 2007According to the Bible, the Hebrews made daily sacrifices in the temple. They sacrificed animals every day at 9 AM and 3 PM. When the shofar blew, the people would stop and know that an animal was killed for their sins.
This is a key point to the sacrifice of Jesus. When the shofar blew at 9 AM he was crucified. At 3 PM, the shofar blew again and he died.
When the Hebrews went into Babylonian captivity the temple was destroyed. It was rebuilt and destroyed again in AD 70. Jesus made the “once for all” sacrifice on the cross. The animal sacrifices were no longer necessary. However, a question that comes to mind is, What did the Jews do for sacrifices while in captivity? There was no temple in which they could sacrifice. The nation was essentially removed from Judah and Jerusalem. So, what did they do?
One answer to the question sounds very familiar to readers of the Christian text. Rabbis taught that since there was no temple, each Jew was to be a “living sacrifice” to God. They were unable to sacrifice animals, but they could live for God.
Do you remember Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:1? “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Perhaps he used the imagery of the captivity to remind the disciples of Jesus to LIVE for God.
Another thought occurs to me. The temple in Jerusalem was indeed destroyed by the Babylonians and by the Romans. We, however, have a temple in which God may dwell. It is the temple of our bodies (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). The temple is also the church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
We still make “sacrifices.” These are not the animal sacrifices of the Jews. They are not the “once for all” sacrifice of Jesus. Rather, these are the daily commitments of individual Christians and the corporate body of believers. What has been your sacrifice today?
Keep The Light Burning!
Perry Greene
