A Better Sacrifice: Reflections on Leviticus and the Cross

I have been reading through Leviticus over the last couple of weeks in my attempt to read the Bible in a year (or so, I’m already 29 days behind). Leviticus is not the easiest of reads for me, there is intricate detail about how the temple was to be built, how the altar was to be built and how the priest is to bring the sin offerings into the tent of  meeting for the cleansing of God’s people. Leviticus 4 is a taster if you can stomach it. There is a great importance put on the blood of the animals that are sacrificed and the need to sprinkle this blood on the altar. Knowing that the Law of Moses points to Jesus, I was glad to turn to Hebrews 10v11-14  

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Jesus, who was without sin, was able to be our final sacrifice by shedding his blood on the cross and dying in our place. He came back to life three days later and we no longer need a high priest to go through the detailed process of sacrificing animals for our sins. We can come into the presence of our heavenly Father, confess our sins and receive immediate forgiveness. Not only that but we are clothed in righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says:

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As we approach the Easter weekend and our minds turn to the cross, let us remember the sacrifice of Jesus for us and his blood shed for our sin. We can know freedom and the resurrection is what we celebrate with thankful and clean hearts.