…the
priest shall bring it all and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt
sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
Leviticus 1:13
- MAY 9 -
JESUS IS YOUR SWEET AROMA TO GOD
In Old Testament times, when a burnt offering is killed, its head is
severed, the fat removed, and the entrails and legs washed. Then,
everything is placed on an altar and burnt, and the sacrifice is a sweet
aroma to God.
All this speaks of the death of Jesus, who has “given Himself for us,
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma”.
(Ephesians 5:2)
The head of the sacrificed animal speaks of the mind of Christ offered
as a covering for our minds. This means that although our minds are
often clouded with unbelief, worries, foolishness, filth and human
reasoning, God treats us as if we have the mind of Christ, without wrong
or displeasing thoughts, bringing pleasure to Him like a sweet aroma.
The fat of the animal speaks of the riches of Christ, His best, for God
equates the fat of something with the best of that entity. (Genesis
45:18) The fat of the burnt sacrifice speaks of Jesus giving us His
riches, His best, as our covering. So God does not see us in our lack,
but in the riches and excellence of Jesus going up to Him as a sweet
aroma.
The entrails or intestines speak of Jesus’ motivations, feelings,
affections and desires. We often feel fearful, anxious, stressed out or
angry (and it affects our stomach and intestines). But God sees only
Jesus’ feelings and desires, which are always pure, beautiful and
acceptable to Him—a sweet aroma.
The legs refer to Jesus’ perfect walk—His power to serve and obey the
Father—imputed to our weak and faltering walk. And the fact they are
washed shows that even our crooked walk has been cleansed.
Beloved, God does not see your foolish mind, weak nature, inadequate
feelings or faulty walk. Instead, He sees you in the perfection of His
Son, who gave Himself up for you as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God.
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