High in the green mountains of Vietnam, the Hmong tribe gathers for the ritual. They will ask the spirits to purify and protect the people.
The witch doctor gathers the villagers into a tight body-to-body circle. Gongs and drums and chants fill the air and fill the senses. Almost hypnotic.
The villagers begin to feel that they are blended together into just one chanting, dancing, undulating body.
The witch doctor takes up a long cord. He encircles the entire group and ties the rope into one large, confining circle.
A few steps away from the circle is the sacrifice. It’s a chicken.
One swift hack with the machete and the chicken’s blood gushes.
Quickly, the blood is sprinkled over the people in the circle. Parents make sure the blood touches their children.
The chanting and undulating tempo increase to a fevered pitch.
To complete the ceremony, the witch doctor makes a circle of the blood around the roped-in tribal circle.
A great shout and the ritual is over.
The blood had been spilled.
The blood had been applied.
They were now pure.
They would be protected from evil.
This ancient ritual began along ago. Even before the land was called Annam or later called Indo-china—before any missionary ever made it into these highland with the message of the cross.
Yet again we see undeniable truth that embedded in the hearts of men—deeper than consciousness—is the awareness that it is the blood that saves.
They’ve got it almost right.
But it is the wrong blood.
Hebrews 4:10 makes it clear: “For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats (or chickens) should take away our sins.”
Hebrews 9:12 gives the answer: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves (or chickens), but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
They are so close.
Who’s going to tell them and help them make it all the way to Truth?
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