And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” – Matthew 27:25
In ancient Israel when we chose to set Barabas free and crucify Yeshua, our own King, we called down this curse upon ourselves and our future generations. Could this curse that we pronounced unknowingly on ourselves have resulted in centuries of persecution and suffering? Could this curse ever be reversed?
There is a stirring in recent days among Israeli followers of Yeshua here in the Land. There are local believers who are repenting of cursing our Messiah and ourselves. With one voice we are proclaiming Scriptures of hope and life while repenting of disobeying the voice of the L-rd. And we are worshipping the Holy One of Israel while singing of His love and compassion for Zion.
“Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O L-rd, are G-d, and that You have turned their heart back again.” – 1 King’s 18:37
I’ve often pondered how G-d gave all those Scriptures in the Torah speaking about the blood of the korban, the sacrifice. The sacrificial system that was given to us is repeatedly etched on our hearts and minds as we read the weekly Parasha year after year. And according to the Torah, the only way to make true repentance for our sins is through the blood of the sacrifice on the altar.
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” – Leviticus 17:11
There’s something I never realized before during a recent time of corporate repentance. The sacrifice was always laid upon the mizbeach, the altar, in a horizontal position. This made offering the korban easy as it was simply placed on the altar and offered up from there. But I never considered how the final altar was vertical! It was an altar that was lifted up on high and it was not easy at all – the whole pain, suffering and sin of the world was laid upon Yeshua, the perfect Passover Lamb, as He was nailed to this altar and raised up to His Father in heaven! The final altar was the cross, something that we Jews were taught to despise because it represented suffering and persecution. But during corporate prayer and repentance, I recently saw the cross in a whole new light as the final sacrifice, Yeshua, was offered up to the Father from this final altar, the cross!
“From now on you will not see Me until you say, “’Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai!’” – Matthew 23:39
I truly believe that we are approaching the days that Yeshua spoke of when He declared this prophecy while standing over Jerusalem, the heart of Israel. Would calling out to our G-d in repentance with one voice be the very thing that would welcome the King of Glory back home?