Jesus = The Sin Offering

Let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering. —Leviticus 4:3
 
When we say or do something damaging to others, it brings guilt and shame upon us, reducing our self-esteem and sense of worth. Even worse, sin, when it is finished, brings death. To live without forgiveness is miserable indeed.
 
In Leviticus 4, the Lord provided an answer to sin’s ravages. He instructed any Israelite who sinned to bring an innocent animal to the tabernacle altar as a sacrifice. The sinner laid his hand on the head of the animal, then slaughtered it. This was called the sin offering, and it conveyed the idea of transference. God created a method of dealing with sin that allowed the sinner to transfer his guilt onto the head of an innocent victim who would then die in his or her stead.
 
We now know that the blood of the animal had no power in itself. It was symbolic, pointing to Christ. Isaiah 53 says: Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows…. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (vv. 4–6) Christ Himself bore the penalty for our sins on the cross, that we might be abundantly pardoned—just as though we had never sinned at all.
 
Think of the thing about which you feel worst. If you could go back and change it, you would, but that’s impossible. What, then, can you do with your guilt and shame? You can push it down deeper into your own heart where it will eventually poison your personality. You can push it onto others, blaming them for your problems. Or you can push your sins onto Christ, who bears our transgressions.
 
Christ has for sin atonement made
What a wonderful Savior!
We are redeemed, the price is paid
What a wonderful Savior! —Elisha A. Hoffman, 1891
 
Be thankful today, for your sin offering (Jesus) who removed your shame and placed you in the way of God blessing.
 
In His Service,
Eric Barnes