JESUS, THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHER -- Tomorrow:
"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight." (Colossians 1:20-22)
Devotion 8 of 32
"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross . . . "
The death or Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, and the shedding of His blood by which He made peace, was introduced in the various animal sacrifices that were offered under the Law. Because an atoning death required remarkable complexities, it could not be fully depicted in a single Levitical sacrifice. What was required was so extensive that many different kinds of sacrifices were required to reveal the nature and effectiveness of Christ's death. A brief review of these sacrifices of life will help us appreciate the thoroughness of Christ's death. Here, I will look at only the animals that were offered.
1. LAMB. "If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD" (Lev 3:7). Here was an offering depicting innocence and weakness. The Lord fulfilled this type in being "crucified through weakness" (2 Cor 13:4), and being led as a Lamb, dumb to the slaughter (Isa 53:7; Acts 8:32).
2. FEMALE LAMB. "And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish" (Lev 4:32). Here the capacity to give birth was offered. The lamb forfeited the right to bring forth natural seed. Jesus fulfilled this figure in His death, being cut off prematurely, and having no earthly generation (Isa 53:8).
3. HE LAMB. "And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD" (Lev 14:12). Here was a lamb that had the potential of having progeny, yet that capacity was terminated when it was offered to God. Jesus fulfilled this type by offering a life of great earthly potential to God.
4. BULLOCK. "If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering" (Lev 4:3). The offering of a young bullock was the offering of strength and vitality. Jesus offered Himself a sacrifice to God in the strength of young manhood, thus fulfilling this figure.
5. HEIFER. "This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke" (Num 19:2-17). The heifer was one that had never been used for other purposes. Its sole utility pertained to the Lord. Jesus fulfilled this figure in never being used to fulfill another person's will, unlike the lost whom He came to save, who had served sin, self, and Satan.
6. SLAIN GOAT. "And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD" (Lev 3:12). Goats were much like sheep, except they excelled in strength, living in higher places, whereas sheep inhabited plains and valleys. Jesus fulfilled this type by sacrificing a life that was strong, and lived in the higher domains of godliness and accord with God.
7. LIVE GOAT. "And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness" (Lev 16:20-22). The living goat could navigate in uninhabitable realms more safely than a sheep. It was strong and able to move about where weaker animals would succumb. Jesus fulfilled this type by moving into a realm that could not be penetrated by any other man. There He presented His own blood, thereby making His death effective.
8. SLAIN BIRD. "And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: and he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: and he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times" (Lev 14:49-51). The bird was more noted for beauty and dexterity than strength and servitude. Jesus fulfilled this type by offering a life of unexcelled beauty before God – a life that was lived freely and with great spiritual dexterity among men.
9. LIVE BIRD. "But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean." (Lev 14:53). The living bird could soar from an open field into the spacious heavens, moving about freely and without the restraints to which the beasts of the earth were subject. Jesus fulfilled this type by offering a life that was without guile – a life that had been lived out in the heavenly places, soaring where others could not go.
10. TURTLEDOVE. "And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering" (Lev 5:7). The turtledove was a gentle and sensitive bird, most often domesticated. It is known for its migratory nature and timid disposition. Jesus fulfilled this type by offering a life that had been gentle and lowly – a life that often preferred lonely vigils with the Father in the higher and less agitated realms.
11. RAM. "If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering" (Lev 5:15). A ram obtained special value, being considered of greater worth than a sheep. When fattened, it was a favorite article of food. Our Lord fulfilled this type by offering a life that was noted for strength – a life that was fully capable of overcoming adversaries. He was also a source of great nourishment and encouragement, as all of the disciples could attest.
12. BURNT OFFERINGS. "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" (Lev 1:4). These were offerings that were consumed, leaving no residue – the whole of it was offered to God. The Savior fulfilled this type by being "made a curse for us," tasting of death for every man, and being "made sin for us." He was offered to God in His entirety.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the thoroughness of Christ's sacrificial death.