If you have spent time studying scripture, you are likely to have encountered a "type." Typology is a method of teaching and interpreting scripture that draws connections between people, places, things, events, etc. from the Old Testament to a New Testament counterpart. Unlike, simple illustrations or parallels that may be drawn between various examples from scripture, "types" are specifically identified as such by the New Testament authors within the scriptures.
As Cody pointed out in this week's sermon, perhaps the most often used "type" in all of scripture is that of Jesus as the sacrificial lamb. Much of the deep theological truth that is conveyed in the typology of Jesus and the lamb is lost on readers today. To first century Jews though, the message was abundantly clear. Since the days of Moses and the tabernacle, the fully developed sacrificial system had been in place for the Jews. Moreover, sacrificial offerings to make atonement for sin had been established by God's own hand himself after the very first sin of Adam and Eve in the garden and had long been a part of human history.
God's first command had been simple..."eat that which I have forbidden to you, and you shall die." In one very real sense, Adam and Eve did die spiritually when they committed that first act of treason against God. In the same way, their sin did introduce the world to physical death...because of sin, living things do eventually die. However, God did not strike down Adam and Eve physically when they sinned against him (and thankfully for us, he doesn't strike down you and I when we sin either). Instead, God killed an animal to cover the shame and nakedness of Adam and Eve. Sin had left them exposed and vulnerable, but God, in his mercy, covered over their sin.
From that time on, offering a blood sacrifice to God as propitiation for one's sin was a foundational part of the lives of God's people. The lesson of the sacrificial system, however, was much greater than simply making a "payment" to appease an angry God. No, there were much deeper lessons for God's people then, and those lessons are useful reminders still for us today.
First, the violence of the sacrifice is meant to remind us of the ugliness of our sin before a perfect and holy God. Try to imagine the scene at the Temple altar. Animals crying out in terrible anguish as their throats are slit. Blood spilling all around the altar. I imagine the scene (the sounds and the smells) would be enough to turn even the most ironclad of stomachs. This violence was far from senseless though. On the contrary it was immensely significant. It reminded God's children then (and us today) that sin brings violence, pain, and death. Sin is the complete upheaval of Shalom, the peacefulness of creation as God had intended.
Second, the sacrifice is meant to remind us of the cost of sin. Because God is a god of justice, he cannot simply look past our sins. Rather, God is bound by his nature to punish sin...all sin. When the Bible (and Christians) speak of mercy and forgiveness of sin, it is meant to celebrate the benefits and blessings we receive on behalf of the work of Christ. Our sin is not merely cast aside and forgotten, but rather it was paid for through the blood of Christ. The sacrificial laws required the Jews to make the sacrifice of their best livestock, not a sickly animal with one foot already in the grave. The sacrifice was just that...a sacrifice. It cost them something of value. The ultimate sacrifice cost that which is of the greatest value...the very life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Last, the sacrifice is meant to remind us that we cannot atone for our own sins. The nature of the sacrifice was always substitutionary in nature. The blood of the sacrifice was given in place of the sinner's own blood. Only the blood of a perfect and spotless lamb could be an acceptable offering to God. This was always the unavoidable shortcoming of the sacrificial system. Because of sin, no perfect offering could be found to pay for the sins of man. The continual sacrifice of animals was merely a temporary solution to man's greatest problem. It was only when the one true perfect and spotless lamb, Jesus, offered himself as the atonement for sin, once and for all, that the wrath of God against all unrighteousness was finally satisfied.
This week (and in the coming weeks) as we study and reflect on the death of Jesus upon the cross in our study of Matthew, it is my prayer that we would be continually reminded of the lessons we can learn from the typological relationship between Jesus and the sacrificial lamb.
In Grace,
Chris Morris
If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.
Part 87 - Preparing for Burial
Questions discussed in this sermon:
1. What does the Passover feast teach us about the crucifixion?
2. What connection does Simon the leper have with Mary?
3. What is the passion of the Christ?
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