Eternal Purification
The Old Testament sacrificial system was not normative for all time. The laws it contained were positive laws—given for a specific time, place, and people—rather than natural law, which applies universally (e.g., the Ten Commandments). This does not mean, however, that we cannot learn from these civil and ceremonial laws.
On the contrary, these laws were types and shadows that prefigured Christ, and they contain rich spiritual nourishment for the believer. If the Gospels are milk, the Old Testament is steak—meant to be cut carefully and chewed slowly in order to digest its truth fully.
With this in mind, let us examine the Old Testament process of purification for hints of Messianic glory. Turn with me to chapter 19 of the third book of the Bible.
The Text: Numbers 19:17–19
“For an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burned for purification from sin, and running water shall be put on them in a vessel. A clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, the slain, the dead, or a grave. The clean person shall sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, wash his clothes, and bathe in water; and at evening he shall be clean.”
Christ Prefigured in the Purification Rite
In this purification process, Christ’s atonement is prefigured in three distinct ways:
The condition of the penitents
The shared sacrifice with repeated application
The medium of water
All of these were shadows of a Messiah whose advent was drawing near. Yet one glorious difference towers above them all: the bodies of cows decay and return to the earth, but our sacrifice is seated at the right hand of God, eternally making intercession for us.
Who Was Cleansed?
Those who were unclean—or rather, those who knew they were unclean.
God desires broken hearts. He would rather dwell in the humble soul of the simplest believer than in the towering intellect of the most brilliant false professor. As Christ Himself said:
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
—Luke 5:32
The world celebrates self-confidence; God calls the spiritually needy.
The ashes of the dead heifer represented the midpoint between God and man. When mixed with water, they confessed two truths at once: sin is filthier than ashes, and defilement deserves death. Ashes symbolize penitence. Without a broken heart, the ritual was ineffective.
How Were They Cleansed?
They were cleansed jointly in sacrifice, but individually in application.
The congregation shared in one offering, and the ashes could be applied repeatedly until exhausted. Other sacrifices could be individual or corporate, but here the shadow falls short of the substance. Christ’s sacrifice never needs repetition:
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God… For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
—Hebrews 10:12, 14
One sacrifice, once for all, cleanses every sin. No mere man, angel, or exalted creature could satisfy divine justice. Only the death of the second person of the Trinity could rescue defiled sons of Adam from the coming judgment.
What Were We Cleansed From?
From defilement and death.
Defilement is the cologne of Satan, and death is his tuxedo. Christ cleanses His people from bearing the likeness of their natural father, the devil, and clothes them instead in His righteousness. God’s elect speak the language of heaven—holiness.
Why Was Water the Channel?
The cleansing agent was ash, but it was applied through water. Here we see how the Holy Spirit applies Christ’s finished work to the believer.
Titus writes:
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
—Titus 3:5–6
Christ justifies; the Spirit applies and seals redemption. Justification is a once-for-all act, while renewal is ongoing. There are a limited number of cows in the world, but the Holy Spirit is poured out abundantly on every believer.
Thus we can say with David:
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”
—Psalm 23:1
Justification is accomplished. The offering is final and thus our redemption is completely assured. Daily purification is only a prayer away.
From Ashes to Glory
Can you distinguish the ashes of one cow from another—or from a man? Created beings move from dust to ashes, but Christ goes from glory to glory.
Ashes obscure the cow’s identity; Christ’s sufferings magnified His. When Pilate mockingly said, “Behold your King” (John 19:14), he unknowingly fulfilled prophecy. Even scourged, the majesty of Christ could not be hidden. The majesty of our Savior could not be hidden even though his body had been cruelly whipped. Suffering shrank back when confronted with one who received the penalty of sin yet was himself sinless. The Creator could not be reduced to ashes by His creation.
A Final Word
Those who know they are unclean and trust in Christ’s righteousness gain:
A Comforter who never leaves
An inheritance that never fades
The offering is final. Redemption is secure.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria.
