Jesus Christ is “pictured” throughout the Old Testament. One of the “pictures” is that of a sacrificial bull and/or a calf used as sin offerings. Jesus was the sin offering for your sins and mine. Leviticus 9:1-7
Both offerings were to be without defect – Jesus had no sin when He walked this earth in Israel. Both sacrifices were offered to the LORD. Jesus offered Himself to God the Father when He died on a cross.
The sin offerings were to be made by the high priest. Coming to the altar, the high priest would make the sacrificial offerings as an atonement (expiation, redemption).
To redeem anyone, God made it clear a high priest must first be forgiven of their sins.
Since Jesus Christ was without sin, He does not need to be forgiven of His sins. When He died with my sins on Him, and yours, He was received as the perfect sacrifice by God the Father. When Jesus was resurrected from the grave this is proof our sins were forgiven. Jesus Christ is the High Priest we need. We need forgiveness of our sins. We need Jesus to be our Savior.
Hebrews 3:1 “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession…”
We have a great God, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our High Priest. We need His ministry of being a High Priest for us. He died for us, He was accepted by God – for us. Through Jesus Christ alone are we redeemed, our debt of sin paid in full by our High Priest, the only worthy sacrifice acceptable to God the Father.
Jesus – Savior, Sacrifice, High Priest, God the Son, Redeemer, coming King. Can you think of other names of Jesus? There is quite a list.
Our hope is in Jesus, He is “the anchor of our soul (mind, emotions and will) a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,” Hebrews 6:19
The sacrifices of animals in the Old Testament are “pictures” to show us what Jesus did for us by being the Sacrifice and the High Priest. What a Savior we have!
God’s Word ~ Alive!
Hebrews 9:22
“And according to the Law, one may almost say,
all things are cleansed with blood,
and without shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness.”
Jesus had to sacrificially die
in order to forgive you and me of our sins.
Jesus is our Atonement
Jesus is our Sacrifice
Jesus is our High Priest