Just last week South Carolina carried out the first execution by firing squad since 2010. This is not a lament about the barbarity of the method. If I was ever to be put in the position of having to choose a method of my execution, I’d take firing squad. Neither is it a lament of over the death penalty itself. The State, Caesar, has the job of meeting out punishment. The executed in this case in 2001 murdered the parents of an ex-girlfriend and proceeded to kidnap her. He admitted to the murders. And still had 24 years of procedural delays before justice. No, this is a contemplation of blood.
Our Old Testament text is the confrontation of Jeremiah’s prophetic mission with those he was sent to. His mission was to proclaim the coming exile to the elite of Jerusalem. That is summarized in what the priests quoted back to him, “This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant.” Shiloh was the location of the tabernacle before the temple. It was the center of Samuel’s prophetic work. But the Philistines would steal the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh and it would not return. The capture was taken as God’s removal of himself from the place. And Shiloh would become barren. Jeremiah’s prophetic message was that God was going to remove his name from the Jerusalem temple. And the life that came from that name would depart with it.
The priests, and the temple prophets, and the people themselves demanded that Jeremiah deserved death for this message. “He has prophesied against the city (Jeremiah 26:11).” Jeremiah’s response has three parts: 1) “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city the words you have heard (Jeremiah 26:12).” 2) “Do with me as seems good and right to you. (Jeremiah 26:14).” 3) Know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants (Jeremiah 26:15).” And in that third point is the introduction of blood.
The temple of Jerusalem was in the blood business. Every sacrifice that took place was an offering of blood. And as the Torah held, “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. (Lev. 17:11 ESV).” The blood calls out. The blood is either life pleading for life – for atonement. Or the blood is life pleading for vengeance, as Abel’s blood called out in that primal murder.
If we are going to execute people, I’d say it is good to have blood. It is a reminder of what we do. It is everything that the various other methods, which we think are more humane, attempt to hide. If we are spilling blood, is this justified? Or are we bringing innocent blood upon ourselves?
Which brings us to the blood of Christ. Unlike Jeremiah which Jerusalem would never get around to killing, Jerusalem would kill Christ. The definition of innocent blood, which would lead to the temple’s absolute destruction within the lifetime of those present. And the name of God has not returned. But that innocent blood of Christ also presents with something new. The innocent blood pleads not for justice, but for mercy. “Father forgive them, they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).” This innocent life was sent to prophesy a new covenant. His words still call out our sins. “Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD (Jeremiah 26:13).” His word still allows us to do with Christ as seems good and right. His kingdom is not by the sword but by faith. But the plea of the Blood of Christ is not for justice, but for our pardon. Jerusalem may be desolate, but the New Jerusalem is full of life. Life made possible by the blood. As the old hymn has it, there is power in the blood.
