Leviticus 1:3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish… The leading feature of the burnt-offering consisted in its being wholly consumed upon the altar. "What have we here but a type of the preciousness of Jesus, as exhibited in His wholehearted devotedness, His entire consecration to the will and service of His Father? Is not His language in the fortieth Psalm, "Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God. Yea, Thy law is within My heart" — precisely the language of the "Burnt-Offering"? Again, in John, "I seek not My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." Who but Jesus could say, "I do always those things that please Him"? Isolated acts of devotedness we may and do see exhibited by many of His followers. But in the Man Christ Jesus we see one who through life, and in death could say, "My meat and My drink is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" — One who loved and served "the Lord His God with all His heart, His soul, His strength" — One, therefore, who met in every respect the requirements of the type before us. Before the victim for the burnt-offering was placed upon the altar, it was flayed and cut into pieces, and the parts thereof, "the head and feet," laid "in order upon the wood." This was a testing process, and served to try the animal's fitness for the sacrifice. Jesus was tried. Tried by man. Tried by Satan. Tried by God. His thoughts, the feelings of His heart, His words, His every act — all were laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom He had to do. Yet all bore the test. The minutest examination of His inner as well as His outer life failed to disclose aught but consisted with the purest and most perfect devotion to His Father's will. He Himself could say, "Thou hast proved Mine heart, Thou hast visited Me in the night, Thou hast tried Me and shalt find nothing." Whilst His Father from the excellent glory declared, "Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." In other words, "I rest in Thee and am satisfied. My holiness rests in Thee and is satisfied. My justice, My truth, all the essential attributes which I possess as Jehovah, all are satisfied." All My most righteous claims are met to the full. Thou art unto Me a perfect burnt-offering. "A sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour." But not only was the burnt-offering one of a "sweet-smelling savour" to God, it was rich also in results towards the offerer. It stood in his stead. All its perfectness was regarded as if it had been his. In its acceptance he was accepted. So with Christ's sacrifice (see Ephesians 5:2; Romans 5:19). (F. H. White.) Parallel Verses KJV: If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. |
    |