How does Aaron's offering in Leviticus 9:7 foreshadow Christ's ultimate sacrifice? setting the scene: the first priestly act “Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Draw near to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and burnt offering to make atonement for yourself and for the people. Then present the offering for the people to make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.’” what aaron did—and what it signaled • Draw near to the altar – Aaron could not linger at a distance; atonement required approach. – Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus “is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him.” • Two offerings, one purpose – Sin offering removed guilt. – Burnt offering symbolized full consecration. – Together they picture both forgiveness and total surrender—fulfilled in Christ’s single sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). • Atonement first for the priest, then the people – Aaron, a sinner, needed cleansing before representing Israel. – Jesus, “holy, innocent, undefiled” (Hebrews 7:26-27), required no sacrifice for Himself; therefore His offering could be entirely for us. points of foreshadowing • Temporary versus final – Aaron’s sacrifices had to be repeated (Hebrews 10:11). – Christ offered Himself “once for all” (Hebrews 10:12-14). • Blood on an earthly altar versus blood in heaven – Aaron sprinkled blood before the curtain. – Christ entered “the greater and more perfect tabernacle… not of this creation” (Hebrews 9:11-12) and presented His own blood. • Mediator standing between God and sinners – Aaron stood at an altar of bronze. – Christ hung on a cross of wood, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). • Acceptance confirmed by glory – Leviticus 9:24 reports fire from the LORD consuming the offering—visible proof of acceptance. – At Calvary, acceptance was declared by the torn veil (Matthew 27:51) and three days later by the empty tomb (Romans 1:4). how christ fulfills every detail • Sin bearer – 2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us.” – Aaron’s sin offering anticipated the spotless Lamb who truly removes sin (John 1:29). • Whole-burnt dedication – Ephesians 5:2 calls Christ’s death “an offering and a sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma,” the reality behind the burnt offering’s rising smoke. • Universal reach – Aaron atoned for Israel only. – Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice… for the whole world” (1 John 2:2). living in the light of the better sacrifice • Draw near with confidence (Hebrews 10:19-22). • Rest from trying to earn favor—Christ’s work is complete (John 19:30). • Offer our lives as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1), mirroring the wholehearted devotion pictured in both Aaron’s burnt offering and Christ’s self-giving. |
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