11/12/10Musings:A Word Picture of Jesus? by John

Lev. 1:2 "herd" (Hebrew, baqar) is definitely one of the bovine species, a bull, a cow, or a calf. The "flock" (Hebrew, tsone) is definitely ovine, so it could either be sheep or goat. This word is also be used for a group of migrating people. It actually means "migrate."

To Christians, this first section of Leviticus is unmistakably a picture of the coming Jesus. Taken as it is here, He could have been born in any race. God made the choice for Him to be born of the house of David. Traced back in history, there is no racial purity in David's house. Moses had a wife who was not a child of Abraham. Rahab was from Jericho, and Ruth was a Moabitess. All three of these are included in the lineage of the human Jesus showing that He represented all races on earth.

The sacrifice involved a number of specific actions, some done by the priests, but a very large part done by the worshipers. Anything that concerned the altar was extremely holy, and the person doing anything there had to be consecrated for that holy purpose.

On the other hand, the worshiper had to provide the animal to be sacrificed. He brought it to the priests at the tabernacle, and laid his hands on the animal's head before killing it. That may have showed he owned it, and it could also have identified him as the one needing forgiveness. Both could be true. Then he had to slay it, flay it and divide the pieces. That's where the priest took over offering it on the altar. It was burned until nothing was left but ashes.

The smoke rising upward provided a sweet aroma to God, Leviticus says. That's the Bible's way of saying God was pleased with what was done. It also shows the offering was not intended to appease God's anger, but rather to be a pleasure to Him.

I can see Jesus plainly here. He represented all mankind when He walked among the people of the world. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus possessed every desire that God has given each of us. He refrained from any and all sin in order to be an innocent sacrifice, like the lamb or calf specified in Leviticus. Each of us to become Christian, must have our sins forgiven and become God's children. In a sense we must lay our hands on Jesus as the ancient Hebrews did their sacrifice. We must "own" Jesus as our Lord. We must recognize that we need saving because as sinners we are unfit to stand in the presence of God. Owning Him as our Lord and Savior recognizes the greatness of our Heavenly Father.

When we say, "I do" to God, if we honestly seek Him, then He promises to say "I do" to us, and we and our God become one in spirit. Romans 8:16,17 says, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

If you have not experienced what is described above, you may not realize you need God at all. That's understandable. Have you ever suddenly become aware you had lost your way in a city, or perhaps on a long trip? The Bible tells us everyone is a sinner. None of us has lived without sinning whether we realize it or not. When you do realize you are lost, a kind person showing you the right way is a blessing! Jesus is that kind Person. He doesn't just point the way for you. He, Himself, is the Way! John 14:6 is a quotation from Jesus. It says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."