Leviticus: Types of Christ in the Old Testament (II)

2021 05 18

Jesus Christ

I want you to see how the whole Bible tells one story.

Jesus.

The redemption of man.

How God then dwells in the redeemed man.

Holy Spirit

Find that redemption, find Jesus

No matter where you are in the Bible.

Road to Emmaus after He has risen.

Luke 24:13-27 (NKJV) ¹³ Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And they talked together of all these things which had happened. ¹⁵ So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. ¹⁷ And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” ¹⁸ Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. ²¹ But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. ²² Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. ²³ When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. ²⁴ And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” ²⁵ Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” ²⁷ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

To the Jewish leadership

John 5:39-40 (NKJV) ³⁹ You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

When Jesus was betrayed

Matthew 26:55-56 (NKJV) ⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. ⁵⁶ But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

The Apostle Paul

Colossians 2:9 (NKJV) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

The OT and the NT

Psalm 40:7 (NKJV) Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

Hebrews 10:7 (NKJV) Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come– In the volume of the book it is written of Me– To do Your will, O God.’ ”

To us

John 3:16-17 (NKJV) ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His (unique) only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 17:3 (NKJV) And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Good Conscience

Guard your heart

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Value of a clear conscience

Titus 1:15 (NKJV) To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

Don’t shipwreck your faith

1 Timothy 1:18-20 (NKJV) ¹⁸ This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, ¹⁹ having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, ²⁰ of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Serve God with a good conscience

Acts 23:1 (NKJV) Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

2 Timothy 1:3 (NKJV) I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,

The OT- Conscience police?

Exodus 20:17 (NKJV) “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Hebrews 9:9 (NKJV) It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience–

Romans 9:1 (NKJV) I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

Mark 11:25-26 (NKJV) ²⁵ “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶ But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

1 John 1:9 (NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Leviticus

The Tribe of Levi

Whole of Israel was meant to be a priest hood

Only the tribe of Levi was chosen

Exodus 32:24-26 (NKJV) ²⁴ And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.” ²⁵ Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), ²⁶ then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’S side–come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.

Who is on the Lord’s side? who will take God’s part, and plead his cause against idolatry and idolaters?
Most of the sons of Levi, some of them were destroyed as guilty.

The book of Leviticus

How do unholy people survive the presence of a holy God?
And the reason why the book addresses this is because there’s a paradox to God’s holiness that most of us don’t think about.
When we think about God — we think about his characteristic of love — that God is loving. And he is — which is great news!
But though God is love — God isn’t only love — he has many characteristics — including his holiness.
And his holiness means that God is pure, and good, and powerful.
And that means he’s a danger to those who are impure, not good, and weak.

Here are five “types” of Jesus Christ from the book of Leviticus:

The Sacrificial System.
Tabernacle.
Priesthood. Jesus the Messiah/Christ
Scapegoat.
Holiness codes.
The Sacrificial System.

THE SWEET SAVOR OFFERINGS

Burnt Offerings, Corban (Leviticus 1)

The Burnt offerings were offered daily as an offering of dedication. It is the most common sacrifice in the Tabernacle and pictures the idea of consecration and self-surrender of the whole man to the Lord.
It typifies Christ offering Himself without spot to God in delight to do His Father’s will even in death. There was no reservation. Christ completely yielded Himself to God on our behalf. (John 6:38; 4:34; Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 9:14; 10:7ff). It is the “Surrender” of Christ.

John 6:38 (NKJV) For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 4:34 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV) And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Hebrews 9:14 (NKJV) how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:7 (NKJV) Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come– In the volume of the book it is written of Me– To do Your will, O God.’ “

This sacrifice also finds application in the consecration of the believer to God (Romans 12:1; I Corinthians 6:2e).

Romans 12:1 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Meal Offering (Leviticus 2)

The meal offering is the sacrifice of daily devotion, and is called “meat” in the KJV.
It typifies the perfect humanity of Christ. He is perfect in thought, in word and in action. Let us feed on the perfect meal offering. He is the Bread of Life. We must first come to Him with our whole burnt offering, and then we keep coming with our continual meal offering. It is our very best; it is our gift of life. (cf. I Peter 2:22) Christ is the grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies (John 12:24; 4:34; 6:27).

1 Peter 2:22 (NKJV) “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

John 12:24 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
John 4:34 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
John 6:27 (NKJV) Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

The meal offering is also a beautiful picture of the sanctification of the believer, i. e. the one who has appropriated the burnt offering of Christ by faith.

Peace Offering (Leviticus 3)

The Peace Offering represents fellowship and communion with God. It is an offering of thanksgiving. The sacrifice conveys the blessings and powers by which salvation is established and secured. Man justified spontaneously engages in praise and exercises fellowship. It is always preceded by the daily burnt-offering. Thanksgiving to God for salvation. The peace offering comes last in the order in which they were observed. “Peace” means prosperity, welfare, joy, happiness. It is a joyous feast including the priest, people and God.
It typifies Christ, our Peace (Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1; II Cor. 5:19; I Jn. 1:3, 7). Christ is our mediator of peace.

Ephesians 2:14 (NKJV) For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
Colossians 1:20 (NKJV) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Romans 5:1 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Corinthians 5:19 (NKJV) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
1 John 1:3 (NKJV) that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:7 (NKJV) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

NON-SWEET SAVOR OFFERINGS

Sin Offering (Leviticus 4)

The sin offering acknowledges sin (vv. 2, 3). It is for expiation for sin. In this offering man is a convicted sinner. God holds us accountable for sin. We are like criminals who have been found guilty and sentenced to death. ‘The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). It did not deal with sins in general, but particular sins. This sacrifice dealt with the knowledge of sin of which the people were not aware of before.

Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It typifies Christ as Sin bearer. Christ is “made sin for us.” (Cf. II Corinthians 5:21). He deals with out particular sins. His death covers every sin (I Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:6; I John 1:9).

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

1 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV) All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
John 1:29 (NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5)

The trespass offering cleanses the conscience and sends the sinner back to make restitution. It was for special sins by which a person had contracted guilt.
It typifies Christ making restitution for the injury caused by our wrongdoing. We bring our sin; Christ brings the offering and the atonement for sin. (Cf. I Corinthians 15:3).

2 Corinthians 5:19 (NKJV) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

1 Corinthians 15:3 (NKJV) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Romans 4:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; ⁸ Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”

Christ is our guilt offering, the satisfaction, on our behalf to God. The idea of restitution, or restoration, of the rights of those who had been violated, or disturbed is in the foreground here.

Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV) 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:8 (NKJV) He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
Colossians 2:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Luke 19:8 (NKJV) Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

To be continued…

Non-Sweet Savor Offerings
The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16; 23:26-32)
The Feasts (Leviticus 23)
Our Kinsman Redeemer (Leviticus 25:25)
Our Great High Priest
Blood 0f Atonement (Leviticus 17:11)

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

FINDING JESUS IN LEVITICUS

In the New Testament, the author of Hebrews reminds us of what Leviticus was ultimately pointing to – Redemption.
The word redemption means “deliverance from some evil by payment of a price.”
Another definition is “the release of people, animals, or property from bondage through the payment of a price.”
And redemption is one way we find Jesus in the Bible: God releasing people from their bondage to sin through the payment of a price.
And God redeemed us

— through the shedding of blood

— through the sacrifice of his perfect and spotless Lamb

— the blood of Jesus paid for the sins of his people.

After reminding us of the old system

— the sacrifices in Leviticus

the author of Hebrews writes.

Hebrews 9:22-28 (NKJV) ²² And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. ²³ Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another– ²⁶ He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

And what this tells us is that God’s solution to our unholiness problem
God’s solution to our sin
was to send his Son — Jesus
to come and cleanse us from our sins.
Jesus came to make us right before God
he came to redeem us
to pay the penalty for our sin
having been redeemed
we’re to live for him.
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.
To those who eagerly wait for Him
He will appear a second time, apart from sin,
for salvation.

Jesus is the One who makes it possible for unholy people to stand in the presence of a holy God.