The “sin offering” is special! The expression is used hundreds of times
(about 268, to be more precise) in the Bible.
Several things about this particular offering stand out, remain unique … each teaching us further truth about the Lord Jesus Christ, His death on Calvary.
One is this … the bulk of the offering (except the blood, the fat, the kidneys, all of which are burned on the brass altar as a sacrifice unto God Himself) is to be handled (by the priest) as follows: “the whole bullock (a huge ox) shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place … and burn him on the wood with fire.” Leviticus 4:12
Notice the words “without the camp.”
By the way, while the first three offerings were all voluntary, free will … the “sin offering” is compulsory! No choice, to be in proper standing with God!
In this offering, the predominant thought is our “sin!” (Unlike the burnt offering with Jesus’ total DEDICATION TO HIS FATHER in view. Or the meat offering where Jesus’ PERFECT HUMANITY is in view. Or the peace offering where our FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS/GOD is in view.)
This is Jesus dying on the Cross … for the expiation (cleansing/forgiveness) of our sin and our sins!
This is Jesus dying under the Wrath of God, as our sin-bearer!
“Without the camp/outside the camp” … starkly suggests Jesus dying “out of fellowship” with His Father! (The first time ever!) It is pictured in Jesus’ wail: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1 and Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34)
Isaiah 53 picks up this thought, too. Verse 4: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, SMITTEN OF GOD, and afflicted.” Then again in verse 10: “Yet IT PLEASED THE LORD TO BRUISE (to crush) HIM; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin.”
“Outside the camp!”
Now read Hebrews 13:11-12, critical “sin offering” information … “For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned WITHOUT THE CAMP. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered WITHOUT THE GATE.” Crucified outside the City Walls of Jerusalem!
Wow!
But there maybe even more here.
Jesus too was considered expelled, even “cursed” by Israel, by the Jews, by His Own people! (Whom He loved so dearly! As in Matthew 15:24 … “But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” As in Matthew 23:37 … “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”)
I go further, citing Paul … “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT HANGETH ON A TREE.” Galatians 3:13, Jesus cursed, excommunicated, from the Temple area, from the whole City, the whole Nation! Nailed to a tree!
Read about it here: “Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I AM: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the BLASPHEMY: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him …” Mark 14:61-65, where Jesus just said He was God, the great “I AM.”And for that, they condemned Him to death, severed Him from the religious community of His day!
They killed Him … away from the city!
Jesus … indeed the PERFECT FULFILLMENT of the Old Testament sin offering!
No wonder Paul incisively wrote: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
That is … “For he (God the Father) hath made him (Jesus, God the Son) to be sin for us, who (Jesus) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (in Jesus).”
The sin offering … in a verse!
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Jesus, like that ox (bullock) was “burned” to ashes, under the “Fiery Wrath” of Almighty God, thus atoning (suffering for and expiating, atoning) our sins!
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