All About Jesus...

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to Aaron: In all future generations, none of your descendants who has any defect will qualify to offer food to his God. No one who has a defect qualifies, whether he is blind, lame, disfigured, deformed, or has a broken foot or arm, or is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or has a defective eye, or skin sores or scabs, or damaged testicles. No descendant of Aaron who has a defect may approach the altar to present special gifts to the LORD. Since he has a defect, he may not approach the altar to offer food to his God. However, he may eat from the food offered to God, including the holy offerings and the most holy offerings. Yet because of his physical defect, he may not enter the room behind the inner curtain or approach the altar, for this would defile my holy places. I am the LORD who makes them holy.” [Leviticus 21.16-23]

The significance of this passage of Scripture is not fully realized until the Advent of Christ. It's all about Jesus.

It is only the Perfect Lamb that may come before the Father. Imperfection cannot even exist in God's presence. God is so perfect (holy) that anything less than perfection is consumed by His Holiness. It is not a matter of God's choice to consume imperfection, but a fact associated with His unchangeable character.

Thus, Christ was God's plan all along. God, knowing His own character to obliterate imperfection and sin, made a conscious choice in providing a "work-around" for His own holiness. It was a perfect plan involving also the reciprocal conscious choice of man to believe.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]

In Christ (in believing in Jesus), one is made holy by His redeeming blood. All perfections are removed by Jesus' sacrifice and the believer in Christ may enter God's presence holy and unashamed.

But there's more...

Because imperfections may not enter God's presence, we can accurately conclude that the place God dwells (heaven) is free from any such imperfections. This brings overwhelmingly concise meaning to our purpose and commission to pray, "May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6.10 underline mine]

Yes, God is not content with perfection only in heaven, but He places the responsibility upon man to impose upon earth the perfect conditions found in heaven. To demonstrate this responsibility, Jesus spent three years showing us exactly what it looked like. And, to circumvent any possible misunderstanding about Jesus' demonstration, He clearly stated that His was our model to imitate:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

And...

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” [John 20.21]

Who would have thought the imposing rules of Leviticus could point us so clearly to the grace of Jesus Christ!

Father, Your plan from the beginning was salvation, redemption, healing and restoration. You are so very very good. Thank You!