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Sacrifices: Symbols of Jesus's Atoning Sacrifice

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Sacrifices: Symbols of Jesus’s Atoning Sacrifice
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Book

The Jesus Christ Focused Old Testament

Donald W. Parry

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Contents

Introduction
Prophecies of Jesus Christ’s Mortal Ministry and Atonement
Symbols that Testify of Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ: Conquering Hero
Jesus Christ is the Lord of History: Nine Major Historical Eras
The Lord Jesus Christ: Potter, Captain, Shepherd, and More
The Lord Jesus Christ Controls the Nations: Book of Judges Case Study
Old Testament Passages Cited by Jesus Christ
Messianic Prophecies in the Psalms
Psalm 22 and Its Fulfillment in Jesus Christ
Isaiah’s Prophecies of the Mortal Messiah
The Messiah in Isaiah 53: Four Recurring Themes
Names, Titles, and Metaphors of the Lord Jesus Christ
Lord (Jehovah): The Most Frequently Used [Content] Word in the Hebrew Bible
Equivalent Designations of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments
God: Compound Names
Lord: Compound Names
The Lord Is Our Savior
The Lord (Jehovah) Is Our Redeemer
The Lord Is Our Atoner
Jesus Christ Is the Messiah
Jesus Christ Is the Lord
One, Three, and Seven: Sacred and Symbolic Numbers
Seven and Sacred Time
Prophets and Prophetesses: The Lord’s Messengers
Eve: Life and Help: A Type of Christ
Adam: “The Figure of Him that Was to Come”
Melchizedek: Type of Christ
Isaac: Type and Shadow of Christ
Joseph of Egypt: Foreshadow of Christ
Moses: Type and Shadow of Jesus Christ
Elijah: Symbol of Jesus Christ
Job: Suffering Servant, A Type of Jesus Christ
Hosea’s Family: Symbols of the Lord for Ancient Israel
The Sign of Jonah: Pointing to Christ’s Death
Priests and High Priests: Foreshadowing Jesus Christ
The Lord Reveals Cycles of Sacred Time
Striking Blood on the Doorposts: The Passover Anticipates Jesus Christ
The Day of Atonement: Messianic Foreshadowing
“A Feast to the Lord”: Sacred and Secular Meals
Parallelisms: Teaching About the Lord Jesus Christ Through Poetry
Chiasmus: Unique Presentations of the Lord’s Word
The Psalms: Praises to the Lord Jesus Christ
Lord: Focused Prophetic Speech Forms
Prayers: Mortals Seeking the Lord’s Divine Favor
Worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ through Music and Song
Law of Moses: Anticipated Jesus Christ and His Atonement
Manna: Symbol of Jesus Christ
Symbols of Christ in the Tabernacle of Moses
Sacrifices Under the Law of Moses: Six Acts
Sacrifices: Symbols of Jesus’s Atoning Sacrifice
Diet Code: Unclean and Clean Animals
God Is a Holy Temple: Temples and Sacred Space
The Atonement-Focused Earthly and Heavenly Temples
Jesus’s Royal Ancestry: Rulers of the Kingdom of Judah
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Contents

Introduction
Prophecies of Jesus Christ’s Mortal Ministry and Atonement
Symbols that Testify of Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ: Conquering Hero
Jesus Christ is the Lord of History: Nine Major Historical Eras
The Lord Jesus Christ: Potter, Captain, Shepherd, and More
1 2 … 10 Next »

Donald W. Parry, “Sacrifices: Symbols of Jesus’s Atoning Sacrifice,” in The Jesus Christ Focused Old Testament: Making Sense of a Monumental Book (Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2022), 132–133.

The sacrifices—burnt, grain, peace, sin, and trespass offerings—that were part of the Mosaic law code were ordered as symbols of Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice. The sacrifices focused on animals—sheep, goats, birds, bulls, and so forth—and the shedding of their blood. If the offerer’s economic status did not permit the sacrifice of an animal, flour or grain served as acceptable substitutes.

Some offerings were voluntary, while others were mandatory; some dealt with the unintentional transgressions of the children of Israel, and others atoned for their willful or deliberate sins.

Biblical scholar Andrew Jukes wrote that in every sacrificial “offering there are at least three distinct objects presented. . . . There is the offering, the priest, the offerer.  By offering is meant the sacrificial victim, such as the lamb, the pigeon, the fowl, the bull, the ram, and so on. By priest is meant the temple officiant who performs the sacrifice. By offerer is meant the man or family of Israel who presents the offering to the priest. . . . What, then is the offering? what the priest? what the offerer? Christ is the offering, Christ is the priest, Christ is the offerer. . . . As offerer, we see Him man under the law, standing our substitute, for us to fulfil all righteousness. As priest, we have Him presented as the mediator, God’s messenger between Himself and Israel. While in the offering He is seen the innocent victim, a sweet savour to God, yet bearing the sin and dying for it.”[1]



[1] Jukes, Law of Offerings, 44–45.

Sacrifices: Symbols of Jesus’s Atoning Sacrifice

Name

Offering

Purpose

Portion Burned and Eaten

Reference

Burnt Offering

Male without blemish—bull, lamb, he-goat, ram, turtledoves, young pigeons (depending on offerer’s economic status)

A voluntary offering to make atonement for general inadvertent sins

Whole animal burned

Ex. 29:38–42; Lev. 1:3–17;

6:8–13; Num. 28:3–8

 

Grain Offering

Flour or grain, at times with oil, salt, or incense; no honey or leavening permitted; regularly offered with peace offerings and burnt offerings

A voluntary offering to recognize God’s good will and gifts

Portion burned; remainder eaten by priests

Lev. 2:1–16

Peace Offering

Unblemished male or female—goats, sheep, cattle

To bring peace to offerer. Three varieties: 1. Offering of thanksgiving

2. Renewal of covenant or making a vow

3. Voluntary offering

Fat portions burned; remainder shared in a sacred meal by offerer(s) and priest(s)

Lev. 3:1–17; 7:11–34

Sin Offering

Congregation offered young bull;

individual offered female goat or sheep;

poor offered two birds or flour;

priest offered a bull;

ruler offered a male goat

A mandatory offering to make atonement for sins performed ignorantly or involuntarily or for uncleanness; focused on repentance and forgiveness

Fat portions burned; remainder eaten by priests

Lev. 4:1–5:13; 6:24–30

Trespass (or Guilt) Offering

Unblemished ram or lamb

A mandatory offering to make atonement for sinful acts against others; focused on repentance, restitution (full plus 20 percent), and forgiveness

Fat portions burned; remainder eaten by priests

Lev. 5:14–6:7; 7:1–7

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