Questions for discussion (from Good Word Online):

Leading Question: Why is the shedding of blood important for the forgiveness of sins?

In the light of Jesus’ death as the true Passover lamb, Christians have seen the Old Testament sacrificial system as pointing to the cross.  Our challenge today is that anyone who is a vegetarian and/or an animal lover is likely to be less than enthusiastic about the ritual slaying of thousands of animals. Yet the book of Leviticus is in our Bible. It was part of Jesus’ Bible. How can we make it meaningful for us today?

Looked at from a modern human perspective, a God who notes the fall of every sparrow must surely have been greatly relieved when the cross brought all animal sacrifices to an end. Why did God sanction a system that we would probably describe as gruesome? Or are we already moving toward blasphemy by asking that question?