Jesus in The Lord’s Supper (Lev 4:27-310
Verses 27-28 This section deals with a sin committed unintentionally, and what must be done when the person is made aware of his or her sin.
- being made “aware of” their sin is tied back to the first verse here where it says a “member of the community.”
- The people in the community held each other accountable and looked out for each other.
- They realized that the strength and health of their community was tied to how well they loved each other and looked out for each other.
Verse 28 then continues he must bring as his offering for the sin he committed a female goat without defect.
- This shows the costliness of forgiveness.
- Today in the church and New Testament era Jesus provides this sacrifice and the associated cost.
Verse 29. Then the person who committed the sin is to place his or her hands on the head of the goat.
- This is to transfer their sin and guilt onto the goat. This is where is the expression “scapegoat” comes from.
- Today in the church and NT era we transfer our sin to Jesus through prayer and confession.
- Then the person offering the sacrifice would have to slaughter the goat at a specific location within the Temple.
- The killing of the animal represents the killing of the person’s sin.
- The killing is accomplished in the NT era by the crucifixion of Jesus
Verse 30 The priest then takes some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar.
- Horns of the altar weren’t animal horns; they were usually carved out of stone.
- Then he is to pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. This is also time consuming.
Verse 31 Now the fat from the animal must be removed.
- Again, this may have been done by the person offering the sacrifice or the priest.
- Then the fat is burned on the altar.
Jesus and the NT era: Luke 22:17-20 17
- Jesus now begins to explain how he is going to do away with all of that OT sacrificial system requirements.
- He is going to make this sacrifice once and for all.
- Then he ties this into the Jewish Passover celebration. Then he gives it to the church as a lasting ordinance.
Verse 19 This is all part of the Passover celebration.
- First this bread is to remember and symbolize his body which would be sacrificed for us just like the lamb or goat had been.
- Second the symbol itself and doing this in remembrance of him reminds us that he will return, that this is just the beginning of something new.
- Jesus also initiates a practice, he tells us to do this, and to do it in remembrance. We are to continue doing this. This now become a part of Church life.
- So here in the middle of a meal that is designed to look back at what God had done (the Passover), Jesus asks his disciples to look ahead to what God was about to do. This is just the beginning of something new.