Life in the Blood: How Leviticus Points Us to Jesus

When you open the book of Leviticus, it might feel like you’ve stepped into a strange and distant world—priests, sacrifices, blood on the altar. Yet hidden in those ancient rituals is one of the most profound truths of the entire Bible: the life is in the blood.

This principle not only shaped Israel’s worship but also points us directly to the cross of Jesus Christ.

The Principle: Life Is in the Blood

Leviticus 17:11 (ESV) says:

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

Here God reveals a foundational principle: blood represents life. To shed blood is to pour out life itself. And it is this life, given up, that makes atonement for sin.

This is the biblical foundation for atonement in Leviticus. Every lamb, goat, or bull brought to the altar carried the same message: forgiveness isn’t cheap. It requires life.

The Limitation: Shadows and Signs

But even in Leviticus, there’s a tension: how could the blood of animals truly take away human sin?

That’s the question Hebrews 10:1–4 addresses:

“For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come… it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

In other words, animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were shadows. They pointed forward to something greater but could never fully remove sin. They covered sin temporarily but couldn’t cleanse the conscience or bring lasting peace with God.

This is why the law required sacrifices to be repeated endlessly. They were reminders of sin, not the final remedy.

The Fulfillment: The Blood of Jesus Christ

Enter Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Hebrews 10:10 says:

“…we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

And verse 14 declares:

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

Here we see the answer to Leviticus 17:11 and the weakness of the old covenant system: the blood of Jesus Christ is the once-for-all sacrifice for sin. Unlike the blood of bulls and goats, His blood is pure, eternal, and powerful enough to cleanse the conscience and bring real forgiveness (1 Peter 1:18–19).

The life in His blood covers our death, washes away our guilt, and restores us to God forever.

The Early Church Saw It Too

The early Christians were quick to connect Leviticus 17:11 with Christ. St. John Chrysostom (4th century) wrote in his Homilies on Hebrews:

“The law made the shadow; Christ brought the reality. The sacrifices were figures; the sacrifice of the Lord is the truth. The blood of animals was given for a time; the blood of Christ is given for eternity.”

For the early church, the blood sacrifices in Leviticus foreshadowed the cross. They were never meant to stand on their own but to point to Jesus, whose blood is the true life and eternal atonement.

The Invitation: Trust in the Blood of Jesus

So what does this mean for us today?

It means forgiveness isn’t found in our own efforts, rituals, or sacrifices. It’s found only in the blood of Jesus. The life in His blood is stronger than your past, deeper than your shame, and sufficient for every sin.

It also means we no longer live under guilt or fear. The old sacrifices were a constant reminder of sin (Hebrews 10:3), but Christ’s sacrifice removes sin once and for all.

As the hymn says: “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Final Takeaway

Leviticus 17:11 gave Israel a principle: life is in the blood, and blood makes atonement.

Hebrews 10:1–4 explained the limitation: animal blood could never take away sin. And the cross gives us the fulfillment: Jesus’ blood, shed once for all, brings real forgiveness and eternal life.

When you trust in Christ, you’re not leaning on shadows—you’re standing in the reality of God’s mercy, secured forever by the life in His blood.