Leviticus - Chapter 1

In Exodus we saw the building and furnishing of the Tabernacle.  In Leviticus we are going to see it put into use.  Just as the structure and contents of the Tabernacle spoke of Jesus, we will find that the activities also point to Him.

We begin in this chapter with the burnt offering.  This offering is brought as a gift - an offering of the person's own free will  The person giving the offering lays his hand of its head - to recognise that the animal was being sacrificed in the place of the person making the offering.  The offering would be accepted on the person's behalf to "make atonement" - or literally to cover the person's sins.  The burnt offering made by fire would be an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

And so the offering of Jesus in our place - of his own free will - makes atonement for us.  And it says in Ephesian, Chapter 5, that Jesus "loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."