Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 8:14-17.
“Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar, and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it. He also took all the fat that was on the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat; and Moses offered it up in smoke on the altar. But the bull and its hide and its flesh and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Leviticus 8:14-17.
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What is the significance of burning the remainder of the slaughtered bull outside the camp?
Such practice points us to Jesus, comparing how the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin were burned outside the camp with Jesus, Who also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
“For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” Hebrews 13:11-14.
As you can read, there is also an exhortation for us. “So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”
Reproach is defined by Oxford Languages online as “the expression of disapproval or disappointment”. In other words, let us cling to Christ, through grace by faith, despite the world expressing disapproval of us.
Likewise, we read of Moses’ faith.
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26.
Let us consider and beware of which “christ” or “Christ” to which or to Whom we cling.
The world tolerates its own “christ” that it can manipulate by its own free-will. This “christ”, the world shows on its stained glass smiling and playing with children or forlornly knocking on the door of our heart.
But, the Christ of Scripture is shown here as a bloody mess, compared to “the bull and its hide and its flesh and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp”.
“3 He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5.
“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14.
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