Christ in all the scriptures Identification with the sacrifice

 Christ in all the scriptures

Procedures of the burnt offering   Leviticus 1

Identification with the sacrifice  v3-4   "If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it *for his acceptance* at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord.  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him".

*This is the majority rendering, rather than the KJV "of his own voluntary will".  This is confirmed by v4, the presentation is all about acceptance by God

Firstly, and most importantly, the offering must be a male without blemish.  This immediately points to Christ, who was a man, and the only unblemished man in human history.  This can point to no one else but Christ.  We pause and ponder this oft-repeated fact, the offering must be "without blemish".  91 times the Hebrew word appears in the Old Testament, 23 times alone in Leviticus.  The Holy Spirit thus underlines the absolute importance of this.  Approach to God must be through an unblemished sacrifice.  We can better understand its meaning by referring to the various translations of the Hebrew tamiym, which is "whole" in Lev. 3v9; "perfect"-Lev22v21, Deut. 18v13, 32v4, 1st Samuel 14v41, also in Job and the Psalms in many references; "complete"-Leviticus 23v25; "full"-Lev. 25v30; "without spot"-multiple references in Numbers; in Joshua and Judges, the word is translated "sincerely" many times; in Job and the Psalms "upright"-many times; in Psalm 119-"undefiled".  Therefore the meaning is not only physically (outwardly) perfect, but also  inward moral perfection, according to its uses.  Approach to God requires an unblemished offering and this can only be Christ who was totally unblemished in all things when He "offered Himself without spot to God"-Hebrews 9v14.  We dare not gloss over this!  The panorama of words used to describe this are awesome..."without blemish, without spot, full, complete, perfect, sincere, upright, whole, undefiled!"  This is not only the absence of sin, it is also the presence of all that is good.

He challenged His detractors of His day, "Which of you convinceth (convicteth) me of sin"-John 8v46.  Demons testified "I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God"-Mark 1v24; Jesus thou Son of God"-Matthew 8v29.  Pontius Pilate the Roman governor, and chief prosecutor declared "I find no fault in Him"-John 19v4v6; The apostles testify of His perfection, Peter, "He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth"-1st Peter 2v22; Paul, "He knew no sin..."-2nd Corinthians 5v21; John, "In Him is no sin"-1st John 3v5.  Above all the Godhead testify, the Father..."My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased..."-Matthew 3v17, Mark 1v11, Luke 3v22.  The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, rested upon Him, inspired Him and motivated Him until the end.  The writer to the Hebrews sums it all up ,"He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners..."-7v26.  He is the sacrifice without blemish and without spot.  Nothing less would satisfy the God of perfection, the great King, the Lord of hosts, whose name is dreadful among the nations-refer  Malachi 1v12-13.

Secondly, the offering must be acceptable to God, he is to present it to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation "for his acceptance".  In Malachi 1v12-14, some were bringing polluted offerings, and also making corrupt vows in the process.  Scripture is clear that approach to Him in worship must reflect the greatness of His person.  A casual approach is unacceptable, due reverence becomes the worshipper.  Romans 15v16 "...that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost"; Romans 12v1 "...that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.."; 1st Peter 2v5 "Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ".  We do not bring animal sacrifices, we bring Christ in whatever way we can, for "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved"-Ephesians 1v6.  We come, not in our own merit, or of any other person, only the worth of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This involves our heart attitude as well as our lip service; it is all too easy to fall into repetitive ritual in our worship.

They were to identify with the sacrifice by placing the hands on the head of the bullock.  This acknowledges that in ourselves we are unworthy, to identify with another who makes atonement for us.  As already explained, atonement is an Old Testament word, and means to cover that which is offensive to God.  The New Testament uses the word reconciliation-Romans 5v11 and others.  The difference is that in Christ sins are not merely covered but removed altogether, and there is no remembrance of sins for they have been put away-Hebrews 10v16-22.  The placing of hands on the bullock suggests the transference of guilt to the sacrifice, which is declared to be acceptable to God.  Identification with Christ is a major subject in the New Testament and involves all that He is and all He is doing.  We gather together in His name-Matthew 18v20; we pray in His name-John 14v13/14, 15v16, 16v23; we sing in His name-Romans 15v9; we call upon His name-1st Cor. 1v2; we agree with each other in His name-no divisions or schisms-1st Cor. 1v10; we discipline in His name-1st Cor. 5v4, 2nd Thess. 3v6; we give thanks in His name-Eph. 5v20; we do good works in His name-Col. 3v17; we preach for the glory of His name-Romans 1v5 and many others.  We are identified with Him in all aspects of new life, and we serve God in His name.  The benefits of this are incalculable, but they bring some responsibility on us.