2.1. PERSONAL DEVOTION - BURNT OFFERING (Leviticus 1:1-7, 6:8-13)

Leviticus 1:3 "If his offering is a burnt sacrifice ..."

The burnt offering depicted the personal devotion of the Lord Jesus to the Father, and His wholehearted devotion in sacrificially giving Himself for us. There is also pictured in the burnt offering the wholehearted devotion that God desires of His people in their personal sacrificial service for Him.

Seen in the selection of the sacrifice, either from the herd (Leviticus 1:3-6 ) or sheep or goats from the flock (Leviticus 1:10-13 ), or fowl, either doves or pigeons (Leviticus 1:14-17 ). Speaking of Christ Jesus as to His being wholeheartedly available to all needy sinners.

In cases of extreme poverty there was the gracious provision that even a bird (Leviticus 1:14 ) could be offered. Joseph and Mary could not afford a lamb, so brought with loving devotion "a pair of turtle doves" (Luke 2:24 ). There is none excluded that are willing to come and avail themselves of the willing effective sacrifice of Christ on Calvary.

In selection of the burnt offering the animal had to be male, "a male without blemish" (Leviticus 1:3, 10 ). The male is representative of the female and the young, or we have the summing up the whole family as a unit in the male. Significantly the male was the more expensive animal. Christ bringing Himself, brought an offering of inestimable expense.

1 Corinthians 6:20 "For you were bought at a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's."

2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

Further - the sacrifice had to be "without blemish." Christ, our burnt offering is spiritually and morally perfect. He died the just for the unjust, and knew no sin (1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21 ). If He had not been sinless Himself, He could never have atoned for our sins, but would have needed atonement Himself.

AS THE UNBLEMISHED ONE, He voluntarily laid down His life for us sinners. He said,

John 10:18 "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."

The offering was of "His own free will." (Leviticus 1:3 ). In His voluntary giving there was nothing in His heart but love. His sacrifice requires our personal identification with it.

Leviticus 1:4 "Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him."

Christ took the sinner's place - God made Him to be sin for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

To be the righteousness of God in Him, it is necessary that just as the sinner was required to lay his hand on the sacrifice in identifying himself with it; so there must now, in acceptance, be an act of will on the sinner's part in identification by faith, in order to take advantage of the death of Christ for him. The sprinkled blood symbolised the surrendered life of Christ.

Leviticus 1:5 "Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar ..."

The blood represents the life.

Genesis 9:4 "But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood."

Such was the devotion of Christ Jesus to the Father and those who would believe on Him, that He willingly poured out His life on the altar of full surrender.

The distinctive feature of the burnt offerings was God's full acceptance of them as a "sweet aroma" (Leviticus 1:9, 13 ).

Ryrie comments: "The burnt offering (Lit 'ascent' since all of the offering except the blood, was burned and ascended in smoke) symbolized the offerer's voluntary presentation to God. It typified the Lord Jesus offering Himself unto death (Hebrews 10:5-7 ). The Christian should similarly offer himself as a sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2 )."

Just as the sacrifice smelled good to God and pleased Him, so the believer's voluntary, personal devoted service is pleasing and acceptable to God. As the burnt offerings were designated as a whole burnt sacrifice on your altar (Deuteronomy 33:10 ), and, a perpetual fire will burn on the altar and never go out (Leviticus 6:13 ). So our sacrificial service is to be wholehearted and constant, ever pleasing to the Lord.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. In which way did Christ Jesus show total devotion to the Father (John 10:18; Leviticus 1:3 )?

2. What should your response be to the voluntary sacrifice of Christ (Romans 12:1- 2 )?