“And you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord, thirteen bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;” – Numbers 29:13
The vast complexity and unceasing pattern of bloody animal sacrifices in the Old Testament point to a few crucial, yet simple, truths. Sin is actually rebellion against the God Who rightfully created and rules the universe. Sin causes death and the only way for sin to be forgiven is through the sacrificial death of something innocent. Sin is so pervasive in our lives that constantly sacrificing innocent animals can’t really save us. We need a Savior!
The relentless recitation of rules and laws related to animal sacrifices points us to our actual need. We need a single, once-for-all sacrifice that can take away all our sins forever. That sacrifice was made by Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus lived a life without blemish, a perfect life without sin despite being tempted in every way imaginable. As a man, He was nailed to a cross as our representative, paying the penalty for our sins so we won’t have to. As fully God, Jesus carried all our sins, past, present, and future, upon His shoulders as He suffered and died on that cross. His innocent, divine blood paid the penalty for all our sin, something no mere animals could ever do.
Jesus died, was buried, and physically rose from the dead on the third day. He appeared to hundreds of witnesses who lived the rest of their lives and went to their deaths to proclaim this truth. If you put your faith in Jesus as your Lord, then His sacrifice has paid for your sins and you are free from the eternal penalty for them. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the sacrificial system. He is the final, ultimate, perfect sacrifice and He’s done for you what no number of animal sacrifices could. If you believe in Him, Jesus has set you free from sin’s power and sin’s consequence. In Christ, you are forgiven and free to live forever in the newness of eternal life. #FollowJesus