All those who touch a dead body and do not purify themselves in the proper way defile the LORD’s Tabernacle, and they will be cut off from the community of Israel. Since the water of purification was not sprinkled on them, their defilement continues. [Numbers 19.13]
As I read this today I thought of Jesus with Lazarus.
Death is a serious thing to God. Why? Because He is life. Death represents everything to do with disobedience and its curse and is the polar opposite of God and His nature. God represents pure holiness and death represents pure unholiness.
I cannot help but believe that Jesus' delay in getting to Lazarus had something to do with Numbers 19.13.
I furthermore believe Jesus' demonstrated anger at Lazarus' grave had something to do with Numbers 19.13.
One could reasonably conclude that Mary and Martha were likely the "preparers" of Lazarus' dead body for burial. As such, they would have necessarily touched the dead body and therefore been unclean at the time of at the John 11 account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Since Lazarus had been dead 4 days, Mary and Martha would, if indeed they had prepared Lazarus' body, have just performed the 3rd day ritual water of purification ceremony.
On the third and seventh days the person who is ceremonially clean must sprinkle the water on those who are defiled. Then on the seventh day the people being cleansed must wash their clothes and bathe themselves, and that evening they will be cleansed of their defilement. [Numbers 19.19]
This is all very interesting because Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. What then might the seventh day mean?
My thoughts are totally random here, but this previously (in my understanding) mundane ritual of purification is becoming a subject of intrigue as I recall that Jesus said all the scriptures point to Him!
Father, help me to consider further Numbers 19.13 as it "points to Jesus."
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