Christ Our Sacrifice

The Brazen Altar

Exodus 27:1–8 ESV

“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and fire pans. You shall make all its utensils of bronze. You shall also make for it a grating, a network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. And you shall set it under the ledge of the altar so that the net extends halfway down the altar. And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. And the poles shall be put through the rings, so that the poles are on the two sides of the altar when it is carried. You shall make it hollow, with boards. As it has been shown you on the mountain, so shall it be made.

The bronze altar, described in Exodus 27, was a crucial element in the construction of the Tabernacle, serving as the primary site for sacrificial offerings in ancient Israelite worship. Standing 7.5 feet high and 15 feet square, it was made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze, symbolizing its significance and durability. The altar featured four horns on its corners, which were used to secure the sacrificial animals. And, the altar had a grating to contain the fire, ensuring that sacrifices were consumed completely.

Its primary function was to serve as the place where animal sacrifices were offered to God. The altar was used for burnt offerings, where animals such as sheep, goats, or bulls were sacrificed. This ritual was central to Israelite worship, serving as a means of atonement for sin, expressing gratitude, and maintaining a relationship with God. The blood of the sacrifices was crucial; it was often sprinkled around the altar to signify purification and the seriousness of sin. Priests who were appointed by God were responsible for performing the sacrificial rituals on the altar. These rituals typically involved the slaughter of an animal, such as a lamb or goat, and the offering of its blood and fat on the altar. The meat of the animal was often consumed by the priests or by the people as a sacred meal.

The burnt offering was a sacrifice of an animal to God to atone for sins. Different animals could be sacrificed depending on the person’s wealth. The offering was costly because meat was rare. People laid hands on the animal before it was killed as a symbol of accepting responsibility for their sins. These offerings point to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, illustrating themes of substitution, holiness, and the importance of coming before God with a humble heart. When hands were laid on the sacrifice, at least three things were happening:

It transferred all rights and interest in the animal to God, manually delivering it to His service.

It acknowledged that the worshiper deserved death (and his willingness to die that death if God so required it) in order to honor God and receive His favor.

The worshiper confessed his dependence on the sacrifice as his sins were imputed to the animal and the animal died in his place.

The Insufficiency of the Brazen Altar

Insufficient for expiation

Hebrews 10:4 “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Insufficient for sanctification

Hebrews 10:1b “… it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.”

Insufficient for comforting the conscience

Hebrews 10:2–3 “Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.”

Insufficient for pleasing God

Hebrews 10:5–8 “Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ” When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),”

Then why?

The shadow points to reality

Hebrews 10:1a“For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities… .”

The practice demonstrated faith

Genesis 15:6 “And (Abraham) believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

James 2:22–23 “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.”

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

The Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice

He is completely obedient

Hebrews 10:9 “then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.”

Hebrews 10:12b “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,”

He returned to the Father having completely finished the task He was given to do:

Matthew 20:28 “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

John 8:29 “And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.””

John 15:10 “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

Having accomplished all the Father had given Him to do, and having returned to His side, Jesus takes a position of rest.

His single sacrifice abides always

Hebrews 10:11–12 “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,”

His sacrifice separates and perfects

Hebrews 10:14 “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

We are perfected.

We are in the process of being perfected.

His sacrifice writes the substance of the law on our hearts

Hebrews 10:15–16 “And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,””

His sacrifice removes our sin

Heb10:17 “then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

Conclusion: Hebrews 10:18 “Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

This morning we have an opportunity to celebrate and remember the once-for-all sacrifice for sin. We remember that Christ fulfilled and accomplished what could not be done by the blood of bulls and rams and goats. We remember a sufficient sacrifice that is accepted because of the pure and spotless and sinless nature of the One dying. We remember that this sacrifice abides for all times and separates us and surrenders us to God. Further, this sacrifice takes what was once a shadow and writes on our hearts, affected the very will of who we are because He has forever removed our sin. What a glorious reminder this celebration of the Lord’s Supper should be, as we dwell on the absolute sufficiency of Christ’s death today.