Four Corners
“And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof...” (Exodus 27:2).
Horns protruded from the top of the Brazen Altar on each of the four corners. The horns served two purposes. The priest would take some of the blood of the sacrificial animal and sprinkle it on each of the horns. The blood would atone for the sin of the priest so his personal service at the altar would be accepted before the LORD. The horns were also used to secure the sacrifice to the altar so that it would be completely consumed above the fire.
Man cringes when we think of the many animals that were secured on the Brazen Altar. Oh, how we should cringe at the fact of what Jesus did for us. There on the cross the Lord Jesus was secured as the Sacrificial Lamb. He was offered as the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of the world. Oh, look. See Him bleeding, dying in agony just so man could be brought into the presence of the LORD. The sights, the sounds, the smells were more rancid than that of any animal, for this was human blood, human agony, human death. His own blood did not pour out on the altar of the cross to atone for His personal sin because He had no sin. Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice. Yet, the blood of Christ was poured out of His sinless body to reach the four corners of the earth offering redemption for all who will come. The church is commissioned to take the message of the cross to the four corners of the earth that others may encounter the forgiveness of sin and the gift of everlasting life. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3).
Today is February 27. Will we take the message of Christ’s redemptive work to the four corners of the earth?
Blessings,
Jim
Horns protruded from the top of the Brazen Altar on each of the four corners. The horns served two purposes. The priest would take some of the blood of the sacrificial animal and sprinkle it on each of the horns. The blood would atone for the sin of the priest so his personal service at the altar would be accepted before the LORD. The horns were also used to secure the sacrifice to the altar so that it would be completely consumed above the fire.
Man cringes when we think of the many animals that were secured on the Brazen Altar. Oh, how we should cringe at the fact of what Jesus did for us. There on the cross the Lord Jesus was secured as the Sacrificial Lamb. He was offered as the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of the world. Oh, look. See Him bleeding, dying in agony just so man could be brought into the presence of the LORD. The sights, the sounds, the smells were more rancid than that of any animal, for this was human blood, human agony, human death. His own blood did not pour out on the altar of the cross to atone for His personal sin because He had no sin. Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice. Yet, the blood of Christ was poured out of His sinless body to reach the four corners of the earth offering redemption for all who will come. The church is commissioned to take the message of the cross to the four corners of the earth that others may encounter the forgiveness of sin and the gift of everlasting life. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3).
Today is February 27. Will we take the message of Christ’s redemptive work to the four corners of the earth?
Blessings,
Jim
Sat, 2/9:
But we do tend to get hung up on the blood sacrifice. There’s blood on the altar, on the mercy seat, and on the priests’ clothes. It’s hard for us to see what the lesson is for us in these passages. Then a verse in the middle of many takes us by surprise. Several years ago I read this verse, did a double take, read it again and ever since it has been very important to what I know about what God did for me.
‘For the life [soul] of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’ Leviticus 17:11 (NASB) [emphasis mine}
God stopped right here in the middle of all the blood and gore and told us about Jesus Christ. You see, it wasn’t just any lifeblood; it was "the blood by reason of the life.” The blood of bulls and goats and lambs would have to be shed over and over again in a never-ending ritual. The same is true if any other human being had tried to sacrifice their lifeblood since none are perfect (spotless, unblemished). But because Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life, His Blood would suffice once for all - "the blood by reason of the life." (Rom 3:25; Eph 1:7, Heb 9; 1Pe 1:19) ~LaRue
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