Thurs.’s Devo - The Sacrifices

Read: Leviticus 1:1-3:17; Mark 1:29-2:12; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 9:13-18 The Lord had specific instructions for the offerings he would receive. The burnt offering was offerings that would be burned on the brazen altar by the priests. If the person brought an offering from the herd it meant he brought some form of an ox, like an ox, cow, bull or heifer. The person bringing the ox was to place his hand on the head of the ox transferring his sins to the animal. The priest would then prepare the animal by skinning it, washing its internal organs and placing the cut up meat on the altar to burn. Its blood would be splattered on the sides of the altar. This animal would die in place of the person and it would purify the person making him right with the Lord. This ox stood for Jesus who was the only sacrifice that could die in their place. If an offering was made of the flock it meant that it was a sheep or a goat. This was a picture of us offering ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Lord. It was prepared in the same way, but it doesn’t say that this sacrifice could die in their place nor did they place their hands on its head. It was to be slaughtered on the north side of the altar which would be pointing to the future. A turtledove or young pigeon has to do with something of love like an offering that you dearly cherish. It was first stripped of what made it beautiful - its crop and feathers. Then it was to be beheaded and its blood drained. It was to be ripped apart and burned. This almost sounds like offering your broken heart to the Lord. The grain offering was an offering of your work. It had to be the best flour anointed with oil. In other words, it’s not just any work, it is the work you did that God anointed for you to do. If the grain offering was something baked in an oven there was to be no yeast that it would rise in pride above the other offerings. No work commissioned by God was more important than other work commissioned by Him. Also, no honey was to be added to make one sweeter than others. This sounds to me to be an offering of persecution. But, if you offered the first fruits of your harvest and it was offered at First Fruits or Pentecost, it could have both yeast and honey. This feast celebrated the resurrection and giving of the Holy Spirit to the church. It was a time of great joy and dancing. Salt was always to be added to grain offerings making them eternal and good. A peace offering was totally voluntary and it was the thanksgiving offering. It represents our prayers of thanks to God for all he has done for us. Like the burnt offering it could be an ox from your herd or a lamb or goat from your flock. It was prepared like the burnt offering and in both the person laid his hands on the head of the animal transferring his thankful heart to the animal which would present it to the Lord. In Mark, Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law which stood for those of the elders of the house of Israel that were in-the-law, namely the scribes and Pharisees. And, Jesus healed the many who came to the house which represented the common people. It says that all the city was gathered at the door and watched as Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons. This was after they had left the synagogue. Remember that Mark was written for the Romans so they who couldn’t attend the synagogue could gather at the door of Simon’s house and see what God was doing. The town wanted Jesus to stay with them, but Jesus knew he had a short time so he left and went to other towns that needed to hear the truth. At one of the towns a Jewish leper came to him and he healed him. He told the man to go to show himself as a witness to the priests before he told anyone else. But, instead, the man went out and told everyone but the priests. This made it hard for Jesus to openly enter any city so he had to go outside the city and the people had to come to him. Jesus went next to Capernaum and taught in the house of a man. The house was so full of people that when a paralytic was brought to him they had to lower him through the roof to get an audience with Jesus. Jesus saw their faith and compassion and forgave the man’s sins. The ever-present Pharisees heard it and called this blasphemy. Jesus then asked them if it was easier to say his sins were forgiven or to say, Arise, and walk. To show that he had the authority to forgive sins, he told him to rise and walk. The man did. The people praised God. The Pharisees were peeved. Lord, thank you that you have forgiven our sins, consecrated us for good works and given us the commission to rise and walk. Today, may we walk with you in your Spirit.