Our texts of devotion are taken from the book of Leviticus 1:1-9, and it reads:

[1:1] And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,  

[1:2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.  

[1:3] If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.  

[1:4] And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.  

[1:5] And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  

[1:6] And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.  

[1:7] And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:  

[1:8] And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:  

[1:9] But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Oliver Cooke has written the lyrics and music for a modern chorus entitled, “I Know a Fount.” Its simple, direct words express a powerful truth: “I know a fount where sins are washed away; I know a place where night is turned to day. Burdens are lifted; blind eyes made to see. There’s a wonder-working power in the blood of Calvary.”

When the book of Leviticus opens with the burnt offering of the Mosaic dispensation, we immediately see the acceptable sacrifice for the atonement of man and his reconciliation with the Father. In the typology of a sacrificial offering in Leviticus, we see the elements of the true Lamb of God that John later decried. First, the lamb must be slain, and the blood poured at the altar for forgiveness or atonement. Second, it had to be perfect and without blemish. Third, for acceptance of God, the offerer identifies with the lamb by placing their hands on it, which is obligatory. This, on one hand, is the personal acceptance of guilt, and on the other hand, a desperation for pardon and substitution.

Each of these principles foreshadows Christ. His blood was shed to atone for our sins. He is without sin, yet He died for the sins of humanity. He took our place, for we owed the penalty of death. And when He offered Himself, He made it possible for us to be forgiven and drawn near to God. He was the only person in history who was perfect and without blemish.

Interestingly, Christ did not parade these excellences for the sake of it. He did so “that He might sanctify and cleanse it …that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot, …but that it should be without blemish”. We should, therefore, step out and meet Him “outside the gate” to stamp His image on our hearts and accomplish a deeper work of grace that will fill our hearts with love divine and free us of every inbred sin.