Leviticus 1:1-9 – A PICTURE OF JESUS
Not all pictures are photographs. There is such a thing as word pictures.
The Bible is loaded with pictures.
Our Lord referred to himself as “the light of the world”, “the true vine”, “the bread of life”, and “the good shepherd”. He also taught using word pictures. He spoke of the Good Samaritan, The Sower and The Soils, having faith the size of a mustard seed, faith that could move a mountain, and many other word pictures.
The Old Testament is also full of word pictures, many of them of the Lord Jesus Himself. As we continue to examine Old Testament treasures this morning, we come to Leviticus chapter 1. Here I see a picture of Jesus found in what was known as the burnt offering.
I feel that it is appropriate for us to consider this picture of Christ on a day when we are celebrating communion. It is a good reminder of what Christ has done for us as we share the bread and the cup.
The burnt offering is one of four animal sacrifices mentioned in Leviticus. There is also the peace offering, guilt offering and sin offering. They are all pictures of Christ.
Let us now look at this burnt offering and see how it pictures what Christ has done for us.
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A COSTLY OFFERING
Vs. 2 – The offering that a person brought was to come from the domesticated animals.
Either a person had to give up something of value that was in his possession, or he had to purchase a domesticated animal from a farmer or shepherd. The burnt offering could actually be cattle, sheep, goat, turtledove, or young pigeon, as described in the rest of Leviticus 1.
When God chose the ultimate offering for sin, He actually chose Himself. He is the triune God, each member of the Trinity is God. It was God, the Son, who left Heaven to be that sacrifice. It was a costly offering that Jesus gave.
- It cost Jesus the limitation of His powers as He came to earth.
- It cost Jesus to take on a human body instead of being totally a spirit being.
- It cost Jesus to be born into a lower class family, the Son of the village carpenter’s wife.
- It cost Jesus to put up with the sins of His disciples as He trained them.
- It cost Jesus when he suffered the humiliation of a mock trial, insults, slaps, beatings, and a crown of thorns.
- It cost Jesus when He gave His very life for your sins and mine on the cross.
Philippians 2:5-8 – Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A PERFECT OFFERING
Vs. 3 – If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish:
The offering from the herd was to be “without blemish”.
It was not to have any known defects.
It was to be perfect.
God was not to have second best for an offering for sins.
There are well meaning people today who think that their good deeds and/or their good moral behavior can pay for the fact that they are not perfect.
As payment for sin, God expects a perfect sacrifice.
Not one of us is perfect. Not one of us is sinless. Not one of us can do enough good to atone for our sins. Isaiah 64:6
Jesus was sinless, and therefore, the perfect offering for our sins. Jesus had no sins of His own, and could therefore atone for ours. 1 Peter 1:18-19
Giving of silver and gold could not redeem us, pay the price for our sins, only the blood of the sinless Christ could. 2 Corinthians 5:21
To enter Heaven we must be righteous in God’s eyes.
Jesus, who knew no sin, died for us.
Now, when we place our faith in the Lord Jesus, we are made the righteousness of God. God sees us as righteous. Romans 5:1
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A VOLUNTARY OFFERING
Vs. 3 – …he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord.
The person making the offering did it voluntarily.
There are things we do voluntarily.
There are things we don’t do voluntarily. We have to do them.
Jesus willingly and voluntarily gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. John 10:17-18
Jesus didn’t die because men tried to kill Him.
Jesus died because He let men kill them.
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS AN ASSOCIATED OFFERING
Vs. 4 – The one bringing the offering associated with the sacrifice by putting his hand on the offering. His sins were being associated with the innocent sacrifice.
Jesus went to the cross in our place.
We associate with Jesus when we place our faith in His shed blood.
Just as the one bringing the offering realized that the animal was taking his place by paying for sin, we must realize by faith that Christ has taken our place. 1 Peter 3:18
The righteous Jesus suffered for unrighteous Jack!
The righteous Jesus suffered for unrighteous you!
But the death of Jesus for you does not count unless you put your hand on the sacrifice by saying something like this, “It was for my sins He died. He took my place. I trust Him as my Savior.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
Leviticus 1:5 – And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord:
In most cases it was the person who brought the sacrifice that killed the animal. This reminds me that it is my sins that nailed Jesus to the cross.
It wasn’t just the Jewish leaders,
It wasn’t just the Jewish Mob,
It wasn’t just Pilate,
It wasn’t just the Roman soldiers,
IT WAS ME! IT WAS MY SINS THAT NAILED JESUS TO THE CROSS! IT WAS YOU! IT WAS YOUR SINS THAT NAILED JESUS TO THE CROSS!
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A SACRIFICIAL OFFERING
Vss. 5-8 – The innocent animal sacrificed his life. The innocent Son of God sacrificed His life so that we might have eternal life. Hebrews 10:14, Romans 5:6-8
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A COMPLETE OFFERING
Vs. 9 – Everything was offered except the hide. It was complete.
Jesus gave His all completely that we might have life.
Nothing was held back.
All was sacrificed.
This is a challenge for us.
If the very Son of God gave His life for me, should I not give my whole life for Him? Should not my life be that living sacrifice that Romans 12:1 talks about?
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS AN ACCEPTABLE OFFERING
Leviticus 1:9 – But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
Sweet savour means ‘fragrant aroma’.
God was pleased with the offering that the Israelites made when it was done with the right heart attitude.
God was pleased with the offering that Jesus made for our sins.
God accepted Jesus’ offering for us.
He was pleased with what Jesus had done.
Ephesians 5:2 – And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
If God was pleased with Jesus’ offering for sin, we have no right to come to God any other way but through faith in His finished work on the cross.
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A COSTLY OFFERING CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A PERFECT OFFERING
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A VOLUNTARY OFFERING
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS AN ASSOCIATED OFFERING
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A SACRIFICIAL OFFERING
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS A COMPLETE OFFERING
CHRIST’S OFFERING IS AN ACCEPTABLE OFFERING