Leviticus.

There are significant truths in the book of Leviticus that symbolize the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and point to Easter as a very importanst feast.

The commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, so that he could pass them on to the people. God in this way drew a pattern for his Son to fulfill. If we had not been given this pattern, we might not have fully understood, why Jesus had to come and die on the cross. God also explains, that he creates a bridge between death and eternal life and that he himself is that bridge.

The Gospel of John makes it clear, that Jesus is actually God himself.

Each sacrifice and each commandment symbolizes important actions between Jesus Christ and us. The main theme is: God is holy, and we must also be holy. We met God in the Most Holy Place, the various commandments and actions show the way.

The Altar represents Jesus Christ.

In the first 17 chapters of Leviticus, various sacrifices are described, which were to be followed to the letter.

The grain offering: was to be unleavened, seasoned with salt and baked with oil, as a reminder of God’s covenant with the people.

The burnt offering: When an animal was sacrificed, it was to be a 1-year-old male animal without blemish. The person laid his hand on the head and killed it, because the animal had vicarious significance for him. Then the blood was sprinkled around the altar and at the entrance to the tabernacle. This act refers to the crucifixion.

The skin of the animal belonged to the priest, and refers to the time when our bodies will be made immortal, at the second coming of Jesus.

The fire on the altar was always to be burning under any circumstances.

Peace offering: The same rules applaid for the burnt offering. The Lord has accepted the person and is at peace with him.

The Lord received the smell of the first 3 offerings with pleasure and approved it.

Sin offering: Consisted of grain and should not be mixed with oil or spices. It symbolizes the Lord’s attitude towards sin, the person is forgiven, but the Lord does not like the smell.

Sin offering: Also consisted of animals or pigeons, in these cases it should be a female animal. Few things such as kidneys and fat from the entrails where to be burned on the altar.

The skin, meat, head, legs, entrails and intestines, schould be burned outside the camp. It symbolizes sin that is done for nothing.

Guilt offering Is a first-class ram, valued by the priest according to the severity of the guilt. If money is involved, there are also rules about that.

Thank-offerings: Along with the offering cakes mixed with oil and a loaf of bread baked with yeast. God is in this way receiving thanks from people, symbolized by the bread with yeast in it.

Fælles for alle ofre, de skal brændes og spises efter nøjagtige bud samme dag af præsterne.

All ofre are to be burned the same day of the the priests according to the rules, ecception are ofre regarding promisses.

Blood is not to beconsumed, this command is also actuel in the New Testament, because God say, that the life is in the blood.

We need the blood of Christ to be redeemed from the sin of the world and to enter eternal life.

Chapter 14: shows rules for purification after leprosy.

2 young live pigeons are to be brought to the priest, one is killed over an earthen vessel with running water, the other is dipped in the blood together with the cedar wood, the purple cord and the hyssop branch and is then released.

The priest sprinkel blood 7 times on the person who has become clean. The 2 pigions represent Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

Chapter 8 verse 10. The blood and the oil – purification and the outpouring of the spirit.

On the 8th day, 2 lamb were slaughtered, one as a guilt offering and the other as a burnt offering.

The number 8 stands for resurrection, for example Noah and 8 souls were saved.

Then the priest smeared some of the blood on the person’s right earlobe, thumb and big toe.

After this, the priest took some of the olive oil in his left palm, sprinkled it 7 times before the altar of the Lord, and smeared some of the oil on the person’s earlobe, thumb and toe.

All this symbolizes God’s preparation for the true sacrifice which had great significance for the future, and for today’s Christians who have the New Testament

The blood: symbolizes what we hear, what we do and our walk (ear, thumb and toe)

The oil: symbolizes the outpouring of the spirit upon our lives.

Chapter 11: shows rules for clean and unclean animals that could or could not be eaten.

After Jesus‘ resurrection, God changed this: Acts: 10-13.

Here God commands Peter in a vision to eat all kinds of meat.

There is scientific evidence that it is healthier to eat according to the commandments, but it is no longer considered a sin. God is always right.

Chapter 21: Describes rules for the priests and they are discouragingly strict, because the crucifixion had not yet taken place.

One thing is probably also true for today: Priests must be a model for the congregation on how to live a Christian life.

In many of the commandments God gave to Moses, he concluded by saying: Whoever does not keep this commandment shall die.

It must be kept in mind that Jesus died for all transgressions of rules and commandments, and therefore they are no longer valid.

Galatians chapter 3 – verse 13: Jesus has bought us free from the curse of the law.

Galatians chapter 5 verse 1: Christ has set us free to live in freedom. Therefore do not be bound by the chains of slavery of the Jewish laws.

Romans chapter 7 verse 6: But now we are released from the law, having died with Christ and been set free from its captivity. We no longer walk in the old way under the book of the law, but have been set free to serve in a new way in the service of the Spirit.

Colossians 2-16. Therefore do not take it too seriously if someone criticizes you for what you eat or drink, or when you are attacked for not observing the Jewish festivals or feasts or new moons or sabbaths.

17: All these are only a shadow of what is to come, but the reality is Christ.

John 15-1. I am the true vine, my Father is the vinedresser.

Chapter 23. The annual feasts: The Passover and its significance are mentioned several times. Jesus‘ crucifixion

Verse 6: The Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Verses 9- 14. The Feast of the Harvest Offering:

The first of their harvest to be waved before the Lord

A one-year-old lamb without blemish plus 7 kilos of flour mixed with olive oil and a quart of wine.

All of this must be offered as a burnt offering to the Lord.

Only after this ceremony were they allowed to eat of the harvest themselves.

Here we see the signs of the Passover:

Jesus the perfect sacrificial lamb and the communion, bread and wine.

1 Corinthians 15 verse 20. Christ the first to rise from the dead.

Pentecost: The harvest has come in:

Here the harvest is also waved before the Lord along with various offerings to the priests.

Jesus Christ has entered the Most Holy for us, He is God’s harvest for us.

Acts 2-16: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a result of Jesus‘ resurrection and ascension. We have been united with Him and share in the same Spirit that comes from God the Father, the Holy Spirit.

Verse 17: In the last days, says the Lord, will I pour out of my Spirit on all mankind.

1 Corinthians 12: Special gifts of the Holy Spirit:

Wisdom and insight

Faith to heal and work miracles.

Prophetic gifts with interpretation

Tongues with interpretation.

In addition to these, there are many others. Our natural talents become spiritual gifts under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Common to all, they unfold through God’s love and mercy.

With this Spirit we work here on earth until Christ comes again.

Verse 24: The New Year’s feast which begins with a trumpet blast

Verse 26: The Day of Atonement

Verse 33: The Feast of Tabernacles.

There are 7 annual feasts in total. The last 3 feasts are special feasts for Israel alone. With the New Year’s feast the people are called together, then they are reconciled with their savior, and the reconciliation is celebrated.

In Israel most people have not yet understood, that their savior has come, they are still waiting for him, when he comes the second time in the clouds, they will recognize him and be united with him.