LESSON 6 Burnt Offering
LESSON 6
Burnt Offering
Objective: Help the students of the Scriptures understand that they need to offer themselves as sacrifices for God, just as Jesus Christ, the substance of all sacrifices, offered Himself as a burnt offering on the altar of the cross.
Bible Portion: Lev. 1; 6:8-13
Memory Verse: Eph. 5:1-2
Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Introduction
We have learnt that all sacrifices were shadows of Jesus Christ's death on the cross. Which are the five main Levite sacrifices? Which are the sweet savor offerings? In the first chapter of Leviticus, we read about the burnt OOffering, also called "an offering made by fire." It points towards Jesus, who offered Himself entirely to God through His blameless life and His death. God requires of us the same manner of surrender (Rom. 12: 1-2).
Main points of study regarding the burnt OffOffering
1. It is to be offered voluntarily
Both the sin and trespass offerings must be offered by all compulsorily. But the burnt OffOfferinga sweet savor offering is brought before the Lord voluntarily. Jesus Christ, who is blameless and righteous, came down to this world of His own accord to do God's will and make us righteous before God (Phil. 2:5-8; Psa. 40:7-8). We must offer ourselves voluntarily before God.
2. Sacrificial animal
The worshipper can offer the following
(a) Bullock:
A bullock obeys its master entirely and will suffer hardship to please its master. Jesus Christ took the form of a servant and suffered at the hands of his creation, namely, man. Recall what we studied in class 8 about how Mark describes Christ as the servant. He is called a servant in Isa. 42:1, Isa.52:13, Zech. 3:8; Matt. 12:18;
Phil. 2:5-8. He obeyed His Father like a servant and served among men also like a slave(John 13: 4-5). Do we have that same attitude?
(b) Sheep:
Our Lord suffered afflictions quietly like a sheep before the shearers, without murmuring or any resentment (Isa. 53:7; Acts 8:32). We must
persevere in our works quietly and patiently.
(c) Goat:
A goat carries the sin of others (Lev. 16:21-23; Matt. 25:32-41). Christ became a curse for us just as it is written, "Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree" (Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21). The goat represents Christ who bears the sins and curses of mankind.
(d) Turtle dove and young pigeon:
These birds are offered by the poor (Lev. 12:8). Christ became poor for our sake (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus was born in a manger and lived in this world without a place to lay His head (Luke 2:7; Matt. 8:20). Moreover, like a dove, He cried in pain without anyone coming to help Him. In Gethsemane, "He offered prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears" (Heb. 5:7; Matt. 26:38-39). He cried out on the cross: My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? (Matt. 27:46).
3. Characteristics of the sacrificial animal
(a) Without blemish: The animal must be without blemish. Jesus, who became the burnt Offering for us, was offering blemish. He was proven guiltless before God, the courts of law, and the crowd. God, the Father (Luke 3:22), Pilate (John 18:38), Pilate's wife (Matt. 27:19), thief on the cross(Luke 23:41), Roman Soldier (Luke 23:47), and others bear witness to the fact.
(b) Male animal:
The male animal is strong and brave. Jesus Christ is mighty to save (Isa.63:1; 9:6).
4. Method of Offering
(a) The worshipOfferingces his hand on the head of the animal. By this act, he admits that he deserves death for his sins and identifies himself with the animal that is going to die on his behalf. We, too, identify ourselves by faith with the death of Jesus Christ. (b) The animal is killed. Christ suffered death (1 Cor. 15:3), which is the wages of our sin (Rom. 6:23). When we accept this truth by faith, God counts it as our death and justifies us.
(c) The animal is skinned. It thus loses its own identity. Jesus was
counted among trespassers and crucified with thieves. Believers have to forsake all their grandeur and offer themselves without reservations as sacrifices in the presence of the Lord. (d) The animal is cut into pieces and placed on the altar. All the members of our body must be offered totally as Jesus offered Himself for us. Everything must be sacrificed, including Head(intelligence, thoughts), fat (strength, energy), inner portions (emotions, desires), feet (walk, way of life), and all to God (Rom. 6:13).
(e) Everything is burnt in fire. Fire does mainly three things:
(I) It accomplishes the judgment of God. For example: Sodom (Gen. 19:24-25), Hell (Rev. 20:14-15). There is no condemnation for us because Christ became a burnt offering on our behalf (Rom. 8:1)
(ii) It purifies (Mal. 3:2-3). When offered on the altar, we are purified by the divine fire.
(iii) It signifies God's acceptance. The acceptance of Elijah's sacrifice was shown by fire(1 Kings 18:37-38). When
we surrender ourselves before God, He shows His acceptance by imparting the Holy Spirit. God accepted the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ, raised Him from the dead, and exalted Him to the highest position. When we surrender ourselves completely, God is pleased with us. Let the words of Apostle Paul, "Now it is
not I who live, but Christ lives in me," be our
experience
1. Which are the sacrificial animals used for burnt offerings? What are their
qualities?
2. Explain the procedure of the burnt offering
3. Prove that Christ fulfilled all theOfferingrents of the burnt offering
4. How are the requirements of a burnt offering fulfilled in the life of a believer?
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