What New Testament passages echo the themes found in Numbers 9:6? The scene in Numbers 9:6 Some Israelite men have become ceremonially unclean through contact with a corpse. Passover is about to be celebrated, and they do not want to miss out. They come to Moses and Aaron and ask, “Why should we be kept from presenting the LORD’s offering?” The Lord graciously provides a “second-chance Passover” one month later (vv. 9-12). Key themes in the verse • Ceremonial uncleanness because of death • A deep longing to worship and belong • Coming to God’s appointed mediator for help • God’s compassionate provision of a way in New Testament echoes From Unclean to Clean • Mark 1:40-41 – “A leper came to Jesus… ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’… ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean!’” • Acts 10:15 – “Again a voice came to him a second time: ‘What God has made clean, you must not call impure.’” • Hebrews 9:13-14 – “...how much more will the blood of Christ… purify our consciences from dead works to serve the living God!” • 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The Open Door to Worship • Ephesians 2:13 – “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” • Hebrews 10:22 – “Let us draw near with a sincere heart… our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.” • Hebrews 4:16 – “Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with confidence…” Our Mediator • 1 Timothy 2:5 – “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” • Hebrews 7:25 – “Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.” Second-Chance Passover Fulfilled • 1 Corinthians 5:7 – “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” • Luke 22:19-20 – “This is My body… This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.” • John 1:29 – “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Longing to Participate • Acts 8:36 – “Look, here is water. What is there to prevent me from being baptized?” (another outsider asking not to be excluded). • Mark 5:25-34 – The woman with the flow of blood presses in for healing despite uncleanness laws—Jesus welcomes her. Personal takeaways • God knows the ache of those who feel disqualified; in Christ He provides full cleansing. • No one who genuinely seeks fellowship with the Lord is turned away; the door is open through the blood of the true Passover Lamb. • Approach the greater-than-Moses—Jesus—with confidence; He delights to make the unclean clean and include the excluded in His worshiping family. |
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