Leviticus 1:13 13… the priest shall bring it all and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
In Old Testament times, when a burnt offering is killed, its
head is severed, the fat removed, and the entrails and legs
washed. Then, everything is placed on an altar and burnt, and
the sacrifice is a sweet aroma to God.
All this speaks of the death of Jesus, who has “given Himself
for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a
sweet-smelling aroma”. (Ephesians 5:2)
The head of the sacrificed animal speaks of the mind of
Christ offered as a covering for our minds. This means that
although our minds are often clouded with unbelief, worries,
foolishness, filth and human reasoning, God treats us as if we
have the mind of Christ, without wrong or displeasing
thoughts, bringing pleasure to Him like a sweet aroma.
The fat of the animal speaks of the riches of Christ, His
best, for God equates the fat of something with the best of
that entity. (Genesis 45:18) The fat of the burnt sacrifice
speaks of Jesus giving us His riches, His best, as our
covering. So God does not see us in our lack, but in the
riches and excellence of Jesus going up to Him as a sweet
aroma.
The entrails or intestines speak of Jesus’ motivations,
feelings, affections and desires. We often feel fearful,
anxious, stressed out or angry (and it affects our stomach and
intestines). But God sees only Jesus’ feelings and desires,
which are always pure, beautiful and acceptable to Him — a
sweet aroma.
The legs refer to Jesus’ perfect walk — His power to serve
and obey the Father — imputed to our weak and faltering walk.
And the fact they are washed shows that even our crooked walk
has been cleansed.
Beloved, God does not see your foolish mind, weak nature,
inadequate feelings or faulty walk. Instead, He sees you in
the perfection of His Son, who gave Himself up for you as a
sweet-smelling sacrifice to God.
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