In Leviticus 4-6, we are introduced to the sin offering and guilt offering. The sin offering was made for unintentional sins, helping to restore the offender to holiness. The guilt offering, on the other hand, involved restitution and highlighted the importance of seeking both forgiveness from God and reconciliation with others. Under the Old Covenant, individuals and the community as a whole were responsible for restoring their relationship with God.
In the New Covenant, Jesus took on the burden of our sins, and His sacrifice reconciles all who believe with God. Matthew 26:36-56 gives us a glimpse into the events leading up to this ultimate sacrifice.
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experiences intense agony as He prays for God’s will to be done, even though it means enduring the cross. His submission to God’s plan, despite the overwhelming weight of suffering, exemplifies perfect obedience.
By surrendering to His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus fulfils the sacrifices outlined in Leviticus (Hebrews 9:12-14).
Prayer: Thank you, Lord for dying for my sins.
Today’s reading
Leviticus 4-6
The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands—
3 “‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering[a] for the sin he has committed.
Matthew 26:36-56
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”