Christ, Our Peace Offering [Leviticus 3]
1'Now if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he is going to offer out of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before the LORD. 2'He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slay it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar. 3'From the sacrifice of the peace offerings he shall present an offering by fire to the LORD, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 4and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. 5'Then Aaron's sons shall offer it up in smoke on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire; it is an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD.
As we look at Leviticus we see detailed instructions for each of the different sacrifices that are available in the children of Israel. Today we saw the peace offerings. This offering is also know as the fellowship offering and was mentioned in Exodus 24: 5. Moses wrote down the words of the Lord after telling the people all the commands and ordinances that the Lord had told Him on the mountain. The people had responded, "We will do everything that the LORD has commanded." Moses set up an altar and they offered both burnt offerings and fellowship offerings as He read the scroll aloud to the people. The peace (fellowship) offering was the sacrifice of an animal like the burnt offering but this one for the people to use as a meal. The fat was burned on the altar but the rest of the meat became part of a covenant meal.
Just like the tabernacle, these offerings and sacrifices were pointing to Christ. Look at the verses below in Ephesians to see how Christ is our peace that has been offered once and for all. The offering of Jesus is the most fragrant aroma to God.
Ephesians 2:14 - But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For He Himself is our peace.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
I praise You, Jesus, for Your offering that You so freely gave for me so that I could be brought near to God. Thank You for being my peace and making me Your beloved child.
Verna McCrillis, 6/7/2010