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Other Fragments from the Lost Writings of Justin
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10:
CHRIST IS REPRESENTED BY THE TWO BIRDS: both dead as man and living as God. He is likened to a bird because He is understood and declared to be from above and from heaven. After the living bird was dipped in the blood of the dead one, it was released. This signifies that the living and divine Word was in the crucified and dead body, sharing in the suffering yet being unaffected as God.
THE EVENT INVOLVING THE RUNNING WATER: where the wood, hyssop, and scarlet were dipped, symbolizes the bloody passion of Christ on the cross for the salvation of those who are sprinkled with the Spirit, the water, and the blood. Therefore, the materials for purification were not primarily provided with reference to leprosy, but for the forgiveness of sins, so that leprosy might be understood as an emblem of sin, and the things sacrificed as symbols of Him who was to be sacrificed for sins.
FOR THIS REASON: he instructed that the scarlet should be dipped at the same time in the water, thus indicating that the flesh should no longer have its natural evil properties. For this reason, there were also two birds: one was sacrificed in the water, and the other was dipped in both the blood and the water and then released, just as is also described concerning the goats.
THE GOAT THAT WAS SENT AWAY SYMBOLIZED HIM WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF MEN: However, the two were a representation of the single purpose of God incarnate. For He was wounded for our transgressions, and He bore the sins of many, and He was delivered for our iniquities.