Leviticus 1:1-17
Tuesday, 21 June 2022
“…. a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.” -Leviticus 1:9
In the Book of Leviticus we see five special sacrifices that every Israelite is asked to offer in varied circumstances. Each offering was significant to the offerer, because it helped him /her to get into a right standing with God. In the five offerings described in the first six chapters of Leviticus, only two were required while the remaining three were freewill offerings. The root words bring and offering mean “draw near” –for without a sacrifice no Israelite could draw near to God. There were three kinds of animals offered as a burnt offering, from the herd, flock and birds showing that people from both high and low economic background could draw near to God.
When it comes to the New Testament, we see that Jesus Christ fulfilled all these sacrifices through his death so that we who trust Him will be in right standing with God. It is amazing to see how Jesus satisfied God by offering His body as both the required offering and a freewill offering and thereby becoming a pleasing aroma to the LORD. Through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, He opened a way for us— both the Jews and the Gentiles from different backgrounds (Eph.2: 18) to draw near to God.
The burnt offering in this chapter symbolizes a substitutionary sacrifice [in place of the offerer] for his / her sin, for which the offering had to have certain qualities. When this was offered in the Old Testament, it only covered the sin of a person and had to be repeated over and over. Whereas, when Jesus the perfect lamb was sacrificed in our place, he became our ultimate resolution of the problem of sin. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” Redemption was completed by Christ Jesus on the cross!
How does the Burnt Offering here typify Jesus’ sacrifice?
A male animal (v3) – In Mark 1:11 we read God’s testimony of Jesus – “You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased…”
Without blemish (v3) – 1 Peter 2:22 says: ‘He committed no sin, 1 John 3:5 says: “..in Him there was no sin” and 2 Cor. 5: 21 says: “ …he knew no sin…” We read in the Gospels how none of his accusers were able to find any fault in Him.
A freewill offering (v3) –the offerer had to bring his sacrifice voluntarily not as a requirement. Hebrews 10:9 says “… Behold I have come …..To do your will.”
Sin laid on the animal (v4) – A willful act of transfer of sin is seen here. Hebrews 9:28 records: “…Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”
Christ Jesus died in our place to bring us to God. He yielded Himself completely in total obedience to God, thus becoming a pleasing aroma to Him, as Ephesians 5:2 says, “As Christ also loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet –smelling aroma.”
Sin is costly! The innocent blood of the Son of God was paid for our sins. What is your response to His offer of life? Have you received His offer of forgiveness? If not remember that, it is our surrendered life to Him that in turn will be a sweet smelling offering to God.
Quote for the Day: “It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people.” Hebrews 10:14 [The Msg]
Listen: ‘Once Again’
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