Not Always A
Lamb, Not Always Blood, Not Always A Male
Leviticus 3:1
I have often said, "The Word of God
constantly portrays the Lord Jesus Christ's person and work under the figure of
a lamb." Certainly, that is true. The Scriptures universally demonstrate
the necessity of blood atonement by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God upon the
altar of divine justice. In the types and prophecies of the Old Testament and
the gospels and epistles of the New, the Lamb of God is ever set before us. But
it must never be assumed that the only representation of our Lord's person and
work is a lamb. One animal certainly cannot adequately represent the person and
work of the infinite God, our Savior.
THE MOST COMMON SACRIFICE WAS A LAMB; BUT
IT WAS NOT ALWAYS A LAMB.The sacrifice was always to
be an innocent victim without spot or blemish. "It must be perfect to be
accepted." The sacrifice was always a clean animal,representing
the perfect holiness and righteousness of Christ. But numerous animals were
slain in typical portrayals of Christ's sin-atoning death as our Substitute. A
great variety were slain to show that Christ died for and saves sinners of
every nation,race, and social rank. The beasts were
all tame, none wild,to show the meekness of Christ.
The horned beasts showed Christ's power to push down his enemies and do his
will.The lamb showed his humiliation.The bullock showed his strength. The dove
represented his tenderness.
THE SACRIFICES WERE USUALLY SLAIN BY THE
VIOLENT SHEDDING OF BLOOD; BUT BLOOD WAS NOT ALWAYS SHED. "Without
shedding of blood is no remission." Sin cannot be put away without justice
being satisfied. And justice cannot be satisfied without the death of an
infinitely meritorious victim. That is what all the blood sacrifices represented.
But there must also be a scapegoat to portray that the sins for which Christ
was put to death are forever gone. That scapegoat was not slain, but vividly
pictured Christ Jesus carrying away our sins forever when he died!
THE VICTIM SLAIN WAS USUALLY A MALE, BUT
NOT ALWAYS. The male sacrifices were necessary to demonstrate that Christ would
come as the last Adam. But God also required the sacrifice of the red heifer to
show that Christ came to save women as well as men, the weak and the strong, by
the sacrifice of himself.
Don Fortner