What's on the Menu?

Day 21: Leviticus 11–15; Psalms 79–84; Luke 13–15

I am a meat eater.  When it comes to dining choices the big decision centers on the meat choice. Vegetables, salads, potatoes, and desserts are supplementary.  I was raised in a German-American family. I am the fifth generation since my ancestors immigrated to America from Bavaria in the 1840's. 

Germans have an interesting history.  Barbarian is one word used to describe my folk by the Roman Empire. Scythian is a Greek word used to describe West German people. Germans ate like most farmer and hunter/gatherer cultures...everything they could keep down.  I remember hearing my father's uncles talking about eating blood sausage, even drinking warm blood straight from a dish or cup after catching it from a pig's recently slit throat.  Disgusting, right?

The book of Leviticus explicitly forbids the drinking of blood and the eating of animals not properly slaughtered and drained of blood.  For instance a strangled animal could not be eaten by a Jew. It is forbidden because the blood is still in the animal.

What's all the fuss?  The New Testament authors also debated about food.  Paul found the freedom in Christ apart from the law, but through faith in what God is doing Christ to make such debates mute.  But the church in Jerusalem told the Gentile Christians to avoid blood, meant from strangled animals and food sacrificed to idols (Acts 15:19-21).

The Levitical laws have also been called the "holiness code."   God calls His people to be holy as He is holy, set apart from the common for divine purposes (Lev. 11:44, 45). 

I have a Boy Scout uniform I only wear to Boy Scout functions.  I have a minister's robe, I only wear in the context of worship.  These objects are for one purpose.  I have a toothbrush I only use for brushing teeth.  If it gets used to clean the bottom of my shoes, I never put it in my mouth again. I get a new toothbrush.

God feels the same way about His people.  He wants them to be clean and set apart for His service and example.  It they become defiled, he doesn't thrown them out like a dirty toothbrush, but provides ways for them to become clean and holy again.  There are however some deadly exceptions, what we might call "mortal sins."  Certain offenses require being cut off from God's people or even death.

In Christ all offenses are forgiven, even the mortal ones deserving death, because God has chosen to forgive through Christ all people.  His holy project with Israel created one perfect man, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  He was tempted in every way, but did not behave sinfully.  He remained holy and unblemished.  He is therefore the once for all sacrifice for all of humanity's failings.  This sacrificial meal is true food and drink, on the menu of every Christian.

Such is the great mercy of God.  He still calls us to be holy and places His spirit of holiness in us who trust in Christ.  There is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than 99 righteous who don’t need repenting (Lk. 15:7).  The righteous religious leaders could not grasp why Jesus’ ministry was focused on sinners.  He told them, “we have to celebrate for this brother of yours was dead, but is alive again (Lk. 15:32).

Repent or perish Jesus taught.  It is a narrow gate into the kingdom of heaven and few find it, but the invitation is open to anyone…no matter what they’ve eaten or what is eating them.  The blood of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, makes the impossibility of heaven possible for a sinner like.

“Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me.” Hallelujah!