How does the altar's design symbolize Christ's ultimate sacrifice for our sins? The Bronze Altar: Blueprint of Redemption “He made a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze.” – Exodus 38:2 At First Glance: What Stood in Israel’s Courtyard • Five cubits long, five cubits wide (about 7½ ft × 7½ ft) – perfectly square • Three cubits high (about 4½ ft) • Built of acacia wood, completely overlaid with bronze • Four horns rising from the corners, one with the structure • Rings and poles so it could travel with the people Acacia Wood Overlaid with Bronze: The Incarnate Son Under Judgment • Acacia’s durability pictures the incorruptible humanity of Jesus (Isaiah 11:1; John 1:14). • Bronze in Scripture often signals judgment (Numbers 21:8-9; Revelation 1:15). • Joined together, wood and bronze foreshadow Christ—fully man, yet able to bear divine judgment for sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Four Horns, One Piece: Salvation for All Nations • Horns symbolized strength and refuge; blood was applied to them for atonement (Leviticus 4:7). • Their unity with the altar hints that Christ’s saving power is inseparable from His sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12). • Four corners face every direction, announcing that the cross extends grace “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8; John 3:16). Dimensions That Whisper Grace • Five cubits – the biblical number of grace (Genesis 43:34; Ephesians 2:8). • Three cubits high – a quiet nod toward the third-day resurrection (Luke 24:7). • Perfect square – God’s justice and mercy in equal measure (Psalm 89:14). Hollow Yet Filled with Fire: Total Consecration • The altar was hollow, meant to hold burning coals (Exodus 27:8). • Christ “loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). • Everything placed on this altar was consumed; likewise Jesus offered His whole being (Hebrews 10:10). The Rings and Poles: A Sacrifice That Travels • Rings of bronze and poles of acacia allowed the altar to move (Exodus 27:6-7). • Wherever Israel wandered, atonement remained accessible—mirroring the portable, ever-present efficacy of the cross (Hebrews 13:8; Matthew 28:20). First Object After the Gate: Priority of the Cross • Worshipers met the altar before approaching the sanctuary (Exodus 40:29-30). • No fellowship with God without blood (Hebrews 9:22). • In the same order, we draw near only through Christ’s finished work (John 14:6). Shadow to Substance: New-Testament Echoes • Hebrews 13:10-12 links the altar directly to Jesus, “who suffered outside the gate.” • John 1:29 identifies Him as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” • 1 Peter 2:24 confirms the fulfillment: “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree.” Living Response: What the Altar Invites Us to Remember • Christ’s sacrifice is complete and cannot be separated from His person—just as the horns were one piece with the altar. • Grace reaches in every direction; no sinner is out of range. • Judgment has already fallen—on Jesus—so that we may draw near without fear. • The cross remains with us on every step of our pilgrimage, steady and sufficient. |
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