What a curious thought! What does a bloody flying bird have to do with anything, much less cleansing? Let’s take a look at a three thousand four hundred year old text and find out how a bloody flying bird meant something then and even now for us today!
“(4) Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: (5) And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: (6) As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: (7) And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. (8) And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.” -Leviticus 14:4-8
In ancient Israel this custom was practiced on behalf of someone who had been somehow cured of the flesh-eating disease known as leprosy. This service was done by the priest for the person to be cleansed.
Two birds were taken. One was killed over running water. The other was set free only after being dipped into bloody water that was from the other bird and had been contained in an “earthen vessel.” After that, the second bird was set free in a field to fly off! The leper on whose behalf this was done, was then pronounced clean! With knowledge of Jesus Christ, we can look back, and see the deeper meaning of this service! Let’s take a look!
- A Leper cured of his disease needed cleansing – We are sin-sick sinners in need of cleansing. When healed by Jesus, we need the cleansing that only His blood can provide.
- The birds were alive and clean – even as Jesus lived a clean and spotless life!
- One bird was killed in an “earthen vessel” over running water – The New Testament refers to our body as an “earthen vessel” (2 Cor. 4:7). Jesus was “in” an “earthen vessel” (i.e. human body) when He was slain for us and shed His blood. Both blood and water mingled together gushed out from his side the day He died (John 19:34; 1 John 5:6). The blood and water represent payment for sin (by the blood) and cleansing from sin (by the water). Jesus provides both of these for us! [a.k.a. Justification and Sanctification].
- The Cedar wood, Scarlet, Hyssop, and the Living bird were dipped in the blood – The cedar wood represented the cross of Jesus which got covered in His blood (Cedar was the common tree of Palestine and was found especially in Lebanon. It was likely the very wood Jesus’ cross was made from). Scarlet represents sin (such as in Isaiah 1:18) which Jesus took upon himself and washed away by covering with His blood (2 Cor. 5:21). Hyssop was a small (1-1.5 feet tall) fragrant flowering plant used often in the bible for soaking up liquids and for sprinkling the liquids elsewhere. It was connected to the idea of sprinkling blood, especially for cleansing from sin. The blood of the passover lamb was spread upon doorposts by this plant, sprinkled upon people by this plant when Moses made the covenant with God and Israel, and King David prayed that God would “purge” or cleanse him “with hyssop” so that he could be clean (Exodus 12:22; Hebrews 9:19; Psalm 51:7). The blood of Jesus is sprinkled upon us by and symbolically through Hyssop. As Jesus died on the cross hyssop was put to his lips and got covered in His blood (See John 19:29). The Living bird dipped in blood represented that Jesus would live again (i.e. be resurrected) to ascend to heaven as a flying bird, taking His blood back up and into the presence of God the Father on our behalf. Jesus’ blood was taken into the Sanctuary of Heaven, just as the flying bloody bird would do so (See John 20:17; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 9:21-24).
- The blood was sprinkled seven times upon the person to be cleansed from leprosy – The person would be pronounced clean at this time. Seven is a perfect and complete number biblically speaking. This represents that the blood of Jesus is applied directly to us when we accept Jesus as our personal savior by faith in Him! As we put our faith in Jesus, his blood perfectly cleanses away the record of our sinful lives! The disease of sin with its guilt and shame is taken away by the atoning (cleaning, forgiving, purifying, and peace-making) blood of Jesus! The blood was likely sprinkled by the hyssop that had been dipped. We will be cleansed from our shameful and deadly disease of sin when we trust in Jesus by faith and receive the sprinkling of His cleansing blood upon us! Our reproach will be taken away!
- The living bird is to fly away into the field – The living bird being loosed in the open field again symbolized that Jesus goes into heaven with His blood to minister for us there! He is alive and well today in heaven for us! (Heb. 2:17; 4:14-16; 7:24-26; 8:1-5; 1 Tim. 2:5).
- The ex-leper was to be washed in water, and to cleanse off any traces of the disease and was to be accepted back into the camp but fulfilling a seven day period (v.8) – This was to demonstrate the gospel-age truth that we must be baptized (washed in water) showing our cleansing in Christ – the water being a sign or waymark of our cleansing. All sinful traces of the disease – that is, things in our life still carrying elements of the past sinful life must be gotten rid of. We do not want to keep anything in our lives that could possibly re-inflame the disease of sin upon us (i.e. get rid of the temptations, sinful substances, sinful media, etc.). We must start a new life in Christ which is removed from the sinful things of the old life! The period of seven days separation represents that there is a period of time after baptism in which we need to be establishing ourselves in the new faith and holy life, growing and setting down roots which demonstrate that the cure is permanent and we’re not going to return to the old life of sin!
Cleansed by a bloody flying bird? Yes! We are cleansed by the blood of Jesus which was shed for us and taken to heaven by the resurrected Lord Jesus himself to be presented before God in our behalf! Jesus pays for our sin and Jesus cleanses away our sin! He removes its penalty and power from us, thus truly setting us free to live a new life in Him! Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon for us if we only accept His sacrifice for us by faith, confessing and forsaking our sins (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13). Will you receive His sacrifice for you and invite Him into your heart today by prayer? Have faith in the One who saves! Have faith in He whose life was outlined time and time again by the prophets and ancient sacrifices. Hold onto Jesus and live the new life in Him by faith in His virtue and power! He has died and now forever lives to make us clean! Put your faith in Him, won’t you?
