Christ in the Burnt Offering

The concept of Christ in the burnt offering highlights the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for humanity, drawing parallels to the practices of ancient Israel. The burnt offering, as described in the book of Leviticus, is a powerful symbol of total dedication to God.

“and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” ( Ephesians 5: 2 )

Etymology:

Hebrew Word for Burnt Offering:

Olah ( עולה) –

Meaning “to ascend” or “to go up.” It refers to a sacrifice completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication and atonement to God ( Leviticus 1: 9 ).

Greek Word for Burnt Offering:

Holokauston (ὁλοκαύτωμα) –

Derived from “holos” (whole) and “kaustos” (burned). It means a sacrifice wholly consumed by fire, symbolizing complete surrender and atonement ( Hebrews 10: 6 ).

Both words emphasize the total commitment and consumption of the offering, reflecting Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for humanity.

In burnt offering, the entire sacrificial animal is consumed by fire, leaving nothing but ashes. In this offering, nothing remains except for the remnants of the smoke. This type of sacrifice is called a “hollow cost sacrifice” (from “holo, ” meaning whole, and “cast, ” meaning burn) because everything is burned up and disappears completely.

“This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.” ( Leviticus 3: 17 )

This represents the complete surrender and devotion required to attain holiness.

The emphasis on the complete consumption of the sacrifice reflects the idea that holiness, like the burnt offering, demands total surrender. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were taught that physical purity was essential for spiritual wholeness. This purity was achieved through rituals, sacrifices, and cleanliness laws that were meant to reflect an inner commitment to holiness. God commanded His people to be holy as He is holy.

I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. ( Leviticus 11: 44 )

The burnt offering was one of the most significant sacrifices because it symbolized the need for a total and unreserved commitment to God. In this, we see a foreshadowing of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
Christ, as the perfect and spotless Lamb, offered Himself as a complete and unblemished sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Like the burnt offering, nothing of Christ’s sacrifice remains but the eternal result of atonement for sin. The purity required for the people of Israel to come before God is ultimately realized in the person of Christ, whose death on the cross paid the price for the impurity of humanity.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ( John 3: 16 )

The Rituals of Burnt Offerring

The rituals of the Old Testament were external signs pointing to the inner transformation that would be made possible through Christ’s atonement.

Offering of the herd and of the flock.

“‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to of er a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD. 4 You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. 5 You are to slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 6 You are to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7 The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. 9 You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. ( Leviticus 1: 3 -9 )

Offering of the Goat or Sheep from the Flock

“‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, you are to of er a male without defect. 11 You are to slaughter it at the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 12 You are to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. 13 You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to bring all of them and burn them on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. ( Leviticus 1: 10 -13 )

Offering of the Birds:

“If the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you are to of era dove or a young pigeon. 15 The priest shall bring it to the altar, ring of its head and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. 16 He is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, where the ashes are. 17 He shall tear it open by the wings, not severing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is burning on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.” ( Leviticus 1: 14 -17 )

Christ as the Fulfillment of the Burnt Offering:

The concept of Jesus Christ being the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the Old Testament offerings, is central to Christian theology. The burnt offering, as described in the Old Testament, was a form of atonement for sin, symbolizing complete surrender to God. Christ’s crucifixion mirrors this offering in several significant ways, as he gave his life entirely for the reconciliation of sinful humanity with God.

1. Christ as the Ultimate Sacrifice

In the Old Testament, the burnt offering was a voluntary act where the animal was completely consumed by fire, symbolizing complete dedication to God.

You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. ( Leviticus 1: 9 )

Jesus, like the Holy Lamb, was sinless and without guilt. No one could find any sin or fault in Him.

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” ( Luke 23 :4 )

Even His blood was pure, without stain or blemish.

but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ( 1 Peter 1: 19 )

2. The Father’s Presence at the Crucifixion

At the crucifixion, the Father was indeed present in a unique way, signifying His approval of the sacrifice. This presence is symbolic of the acceptance of Jesus as the ultimate and final sacrifice.

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” ( Luke 23: 46 )

3. The Aftermath of Jesus’ Death – Earthquake and Darkness

The earthquake and the rain that followed Jesus’ death can be seen as signs that the earth itself recognized the weight of the sacrifice. The event signifies the breaking of the veil between God and humanity, with Jesus’ death serving as the means of access to God.

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” ( Luke 23: 44 -45 )

“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.” ( Matthew 27: 51 )

After Jesus died on the cross, a great earthquake and rain followed, and His body was washed with water. His prayer rose before God like the fire of a burnt offering showing that Christ became the ultimate burnt offering.

4. The Fulfillment of the Burnt Offering:

In the Old Testament, the burnt offering was entirely consumed by fire, never to be seen again. This is linked to Jesus’ death — no one saw Jesus’ face after His crucifixion in His full glory. However, the resurrected Christ appeared to those He chose to reveal Himself to, signifying that the sacrificial offering was not to be pursued in physical images but understood spiritually.

Jesus appears to the disciples after His resurrection but only to those He chooses. ( John 20: 19 -29 )

“But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” ( Hebrews 10: 12 )

This serves as evidence that Christ became the ultimate burnt offering. Just as the burnt offering by the Levites did not remain visible, so too, Jesus’ physical face, which was known to those who saw Him during His 33 years on earth, was no longer visible after His death.

After His resurrection, Jesus conquered death and appeared only to those He chose, revealing Himself in a way that made Him recognizable. This teaches us not to seek images or pictures of Christ as He appeared before His sacrifice, as such images contradict the reality of His sacrificial death. All the Old Testament burnt offerings were fulfilled in Him, and He was consumed by fire, symbolizing the complete offering of Himself for humanity.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is the fulfillment of the burnt offering in the Old Testament. He offered His body as a perfect and sinless sacrifice, fulfilling the purpose of the burnt offering by giving Himself entirely for the redemption of the world. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, He became the once-and-for-all offering that reconciled humanity with God, fulfilling the deepest meaning of the burnt offering in the Old Testament.

His death, accompanied by cosmic signs such as the earthquake and the tearing of the temple veil, marks the moment of full atonement for sin. The importance lies in the spiritual recognition of Christ’s sacrificial offering, not in seeking images or representations of His face. Christ, in His death and resurrection, conquered death, offering a way for humanity to be reconciled with God through the ultimate sacrifice.