Twelve

         Ed poured another cup of coffee, leaned back on the counter and watched as his wife flitted about, at least that’s what he called it.  “You about ready for the girls?” He asked.

            “What are you doing?” She playfully scowled at him, “Don’t you have someplace to be?”

          “Hey,” he lifted his cup and scowled back at her, “I needed a refill.  Gotta problem with that old lady?”

           “You’re cruising buster you keep calling me that,” she bumped him with her hip as she walked by.  “Can’t you tell I’m ready!”

            “Sure! I see an open laptop and a pile of books next to it.  Knowing you they’ll be more books out there by the end of the day.”

            “Maybe there will or maybe there won’t,” she taunted, “Mr. Know it all!”

            “Why yes I am!” He lifted his cup, “Thanks for noticing!”

            Melissa rolled her eyes, “What am I to do with you!”

           Ed grinned, topped off his coffee and headed for the door, “If you need me, which I doubt, you know where I’ll be.”

           “Get out of here you nerd ball,” she swatted his butt as he left.  Some days he was so full of himself.  At least he had a project going in his shop that should keep him busy and out of her hair for the day.  A car door slammed, then another announced the arrival of Jan and Diana.

            “Hey,” Jan called out after a quick knock as she came in, “I hear it’s just the three of us today.  What happened to Mary?”

            “She’s busy, or so she says,” Melissa explained, “I’m getting a little concerned.  It’s not like her to miss our Fall Road trip and now Bible Study for the third time.  Makes me wonder if somethings up.”

            “It is out of character for her,” Diana agreed.  “I’ll give her a call in a day or two and see how she is.”

            “Good idea. Let us know what she has to say,” Melissa stated as Diana reassured her, she would.

            The women chatted as they poured coffee, settled into their usual seats at the table and pulled out their Bibles and notebooks.  It was a routine they’d been doing with one another for years, studying the Word. 

            “So, where we going today?” Jan shifted their conversation back to their intended purpose.

            “Got a topic in mind?” Melissa asked.

            “You mentioned something interesting the other day,” she answered, “Just wondered what else you learned about the peace offering.”

            “Jan was telling me about it on the way over,” Diana added, “Sounded like an intriguing subject.”

            “I thought you guys were tired of my Leviticus ramblings,” Melissa grinned.

            “Don’t get too excited there, girl,” Jan raised her hand and chuckled, “Small doses of Leviticus are fine, just don’t get carried away!”

            “But Leviticus is such a love letter from God!  Jesus said he fulfilled the Law and Prophets.  I want to know the nuances of how He fulfilled the Law!  We can quote chapter and verse of how he fulfilled the prophets! Why not the law?”  Her eyes sparkled as she nodded for emphasis.

            Diana and Jan laughed in unison at Melissa’s passionate declaration they’d heard time and again, much to their delight.  Jan liked to push her button, get her going because then as they delved into the Word it became an adventure. 

            “We could all use more peace in our lives. So, tell us what Leviticus has to say on how to do that,” Diana encouraged her.

             “Well, that’s the interesting thing, the peace offering has nothing to do with peace,” she explained.

            “Really! That surprises me,” said Jan, “Then what kind of offering is it?”

            “You have to start by understanding the purpose of offerings,” Melissa began, “The commandments help me to know what offering to bring, so that I consider my ways and learn how to walk in His testimonies.”

            “Okay,” Jan raised an eyebrow, “but what does that mean?”

            “First let me explain what offering means,” Melissa flipped through her notes. “Offering simply means ‘draw or coming near’.  When an offering is made the person is saying they want to bring themselves closer to God and elevate themselves to His level of holiness.”

            “I like that,” Diana interjected, “I certainly want to draw nearer to God.”

            “An example of what the peace offering means can be seen in the ingredients of the required meal offering. The grain represents our very existence and that our lives are in His hands.  Oil symbolizes His comfort.  Frankincense represents joy and satisfaction in knowing Him. The offering is our chance to acknowledge He is these things to us.”

            “The contrast to that is how Idolater’s used offerings in ancient times.  They believed the animal was to keep their judgmental, bloodthirsty angry god from getting mad.  Which is contrary to Jewish belief.  The Law teaches that offerings are a means to draw closer to Hashem, the Merciful God. His name Elohim isn’t used with offerings because it represents His attribute of Judgment.  Offerings are not about judgment but drawing closer to God.”

            “That certainly changes my idea of offerings,” stated Diana.

            “Me too,” agreed Jan. “I’m starting to understand why you think of Leviticus as a love letter.  If the intent is to give us a means to declare our love of God before men, then sign me up!”

            “One of the interesting requirements, when offerings were brought before the Priest, the person was required to lean on the animal and profess their sins. Which represent their sins being placed upon the animal for sacrifice or death.  The peace offering is the exception, rather than confessing sins one is to praise and thank God.  Here let me read you this quote in the commentary on page 553 of the Chumash, it explains it better than I can:”

            “Offerings are brought voluntarily by a person or a group of people who are moved to express their love of God, their gratitude for His goodness and to enhance their closeness to Him.  A person who brings a peace offering has not been motivated by a need to atone for a sin, but by a sense of wholeness and a free-willed desire for perfection.  There is no confession of sin when they lean on animal for peace offering, rather the owner praises God when he leans on animal.”

            “I’m curious,” Melissa paused, “Did either of you see what I saw in that commentary?”

            “There’s a lot there, can you be more specific?” Diana asked.

            “I’ll read it again and think of Jesus fulfilling the Law when I do,” She slowly read the quote again, emphasizing key words.

            “Offerings are brought voluntarily by a person or group of people who are moved to express their love or God, their gratitude for His goodness and to enhance their closeness to Him. A person who brings a peace offering has not been motivated by a need to atone for a sin, but by a sense of wholeness and a free-willed desire for perfection.  There is no confession of sin when they lean on animal for peace offering, rather the owner praises God when he leans on animal.”

            “See it now?”  She wondered.

            “Ah!  I think I do,” awe filled Diana’s voice.  Melissa raised her hand to stop her from revealing what she’d seen. They focused on Jan as she pondered, nose scrunched, brow knit together. 

            “What do you see Jan?” Melissa encouraged her friend.  Diana leaned forward in anticipation of the Aha moment!

            Jan’s eyes lit up, her hands excitedly waved about as she proclaimed, “John leaned on Jesus at the last supper!”

            “How cool is that!” Melissa grinned from ear to ear, “Jesus fulfilled the nuances of the Law when John leaned on him! Was it serendipitous the night before crucifixion, I think not! I can’t help but wonder that if it was that important for Jesus to fulfill all aspects of the Law, to the littlest most seemingly insignificant details, then what are we missing by not looking at the Law!”

            “Wow! Way cool!” Jan exclaimed.

            “The beauty of a peace offering is that it was usually inspired by a miracle. There is no greater miracle than Jesus!  The prime motivation for a peace offering is an inner desire to draw closer to God!  No man comes to the son unless drawn by the Father!”  Melissa elaborated.  “What I’m learning from Leviticus, to quote the Chumash, is that it “shows us in picture form, what God expects from those who have been redeemed.”

            “I can see why God had me complete that scripture for you with; the testimony of Melissa is the spirit of wonder,” said Diana. “I think it takes a sense of wonder to be able to see those things that are right there for the asking. But we skim over them thinking we’re going for knowledge that’s more important. The idea that John fulfilled the law by leaning on Jesus before He was sacrificed is amazing.”

            “It truly is a wonder to me,” said Melissa with a contented sigh, “The more I learn about the offerings the less I realize I know, but want to.  To help keep it in perspective I remind myself of what Paul wrote in Philippians about knowing the love that surpasses knowledge.”

            “And friends like us to burst your bubble when needed,” Jan grinned.

            “That goes without saying,” Melissa rolled her eyes.

            “But at least I said it,” Jan countered.

            “Here we go again,” Diana laughed, “I’m just glad it’s you this time and not me!”

            The women continued to banter and discuss what the fulfilled law looked like and how to apply it in their everyday lives. Melissa elaborated on the peace offering, while Jan and Diana peppered her with questions. They were so engrossed they didn’t even notice when Ed slipped and out for more coffee. Their adventure in the Word was a journey that filled their hearts and minds with joy.