JESUS OUR SACRIFICE

MEMORY VERSE: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 9-12

In ancient Israelite sacrifices, death is not the primary focus. The killing of animals is a means to an end, not an end to a means. The animals were killed to make their flesh and blood available for special use. Today in our modern society, killing an animal is simply how it is made available for food. There are five main types of sacrifices in the Old Testament: the Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1; 6:8-13,8:18-21), Grain Offering ( Leviticus 2,6:14-23), Peace Offering ( Leviticus 3,7:11-34), Sin Offering ( Leviticus 4,5:1-13, 6:24-30), and Trespass Offering ( Leviticus 5:14-19,6:1-7).

When offering a burnt offering, the whole animal is burnt except the hide of large animals that had been skinned as part of the slaughter process (Genesis 8:20-22). The burnt offering is a way of calling on the Lord to pay attention to the needs, requests, and entreaties of His worshippers. It is also a means of expressing a worshipful response to the Lord (Leviticus 22:18-20). The grain offering is a gift, present, presents, tribute,etc., given to a deity. The peace offering signifies that all is well in the relationship between the Lord and His people. The sin offering is primarily a blood atonement offering in the sanctuary system of offering in which worshipers could receive forgiveness for their sins and deal with the degree to which they have contaminated the tabernacle. The guilt offering is offered when a person commits violation and sins unintentionally in regards to any of the holy things.

These sacrifices – burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, sin offering, and trespass offering - are no longer in practice, but they illustrate the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ and stress the importance of a life of separation and obedience. As our burnt offering, Jesus' atonement is an acknowledgement of the sinful nature of man and it is required to renew our relationship with God. His death on the cross atoned for our sins and restored our relationship with God. The grain offering is often offered alongside a burnt offering. The burnt offering of Christ makes every other offering acceptable to God. As our peace offering, He made peace between us and the Lord. As our sin offering, He was made sin for us on the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” As our trespass offering, He assumed the debt for our sins and paid for it.

NOTE: Jesus Christ was crucified to make His blood available for the atonement of our sins. Romans 3:25 says: “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”

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