Lesson 6

BURNT OFFERING 

Reading: Lev.1, 6:8-13

Memory verses: Eph. 5:1-2

Theme: Let us offer ourselves as sacrifices for God just as Jesus Christ, the substance of all sacrifices offered Himself as burnt offering on the altar of the cross.

 Introduction: We have learned that all sacrifices were shadows of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. In the first chapter if Leviticus, we read about the burnt offering. It is also called an offering made by fire. It is pointing towards Jesus who offered Himself completely to God through His spotless life and through His death. God requires of us a complete surrender.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2)

1. IT IS TO BE OFFERED VOLUNTARILY 

Both the sin offering and the trespass offering must be offered by all compulsorily. But the burnt offering which is a sweet savor offering is brought before the Lord voluntary. Jesus Christ came down to this world of His own accord to do God's will and make us righteous before God.

 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (Philippians 2:5-9)

2. SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL

The worshiper is allowed to offer any one of the following according to his capability:

Bullock, sheep, goat, turtle, dove or young pigeon. All these animals and birds represent various characteristics of Christ.

    a) Bullock:

Obeys its master completely and is willing to suffer any hardship for that purpose. Jesus Christ took the form of a servant and suffered at the hands of His own creation. Book of Mark describes Christ as the servant. He is referred to as servant in Isaiah 42:1,2

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. (Isaiah 42:1,2)

He obeyed His Father like a servant and worked among men also like a slave. Do we have that attitude?

so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:4,5)

b) Sheep:

Out Lord suffered affections quietly like a sheep before the shearers.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

We must suffer persecutions patiently.

c) Goat:

A goat carries the sin of the others

He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.  (Leviticus 16:21,22)

"Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree". Christ became a curse for us.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”   (Galatians 3:13)

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Goat represents Christ who bears the sins and curses of mankind.

d) Turtledove and young pigeon 

These birds are offered by the poor

 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean. (Leviticus 12:8)

Christ became poor for our sake.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Jesus was born in a manger and lived in this world without a placeto lay His head. 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" 

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. (Hebrews 5:7)

He cried out on the cross "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me"

3.CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SACRIFICAL ANIMAL 

a) Without blemish: The animal must be without blemish. Jesus who became a burnt offering for us was without any blemish. He was proved guiltless before God, before the courts, and before the crowd. Father God, Pilate, Thief on the cross, Roman Soldier and others bear witness to this fact.

b)Male animal: The meaning is that it must be strong and brave. Jesus Christ is mighty to save

4. METHOD OF OFFERING

a) The worshiper places 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 which 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 which was the wages of our sin.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

c) The animal is skinned. it thus loses its own color. Jesus was counted among trespassers and crucified with thieves. Believers have to forsake their own glory and offer themselves 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. Head (intelligence, thoughts), fat (strength, energy), inner portions (emotions, desired), feet (walk, way of life) and everything else must be offered to God.

 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. (Romans 6:13)

e) Everything is burnt in fire. Fire does mainly three things:

     i) It fulfills the judgment of God. For example Sodom and Gomorrah, Hell. There is no condemnation for us because Christ became a burnt offering on our behalf.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

    ii) It purifies

 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.  He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, (Malachi 3:2,3)

When we 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. When we surrender ourselves before God, He shows His acceptance by imparting the Holy Spirit into us. God accepted the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ and raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the highest position. When we surrender ourselves completely, God is pleased in us. As apostle Paul said: Now it is not I who lives, but Christ livesin me.