We’re looking for evidence of Moses being taken from Mt. Sinai to be at Christ’s Transfiguration on Mt. Hermon. So, let’s look at the timing and circumstances around his encounter with God on Mt. Sinai.

First, let’s look at the timing. The first Shavuot occurred at Mt. Sinai. Israel left Egypt the day after Passover (Ex 12:21, 31) which became known as the first day of Unleavened Bread (Ex13:4-6). The next day became known as the Feast of First Fruit once they entered the Promised Land (Lv 23:9). They arrived at Sinai on Day 46 which was the first day of the Third Month (Sivan; Ex 19:1). They consecrated themselves for two days (Ex 19:10-11). On Day 48, God appeared with fire and smoke on the mountain (Ex 19:16). Day 49, Moses wrote down all that God had said (Ex 24:4). Then, on Day 50, Israel was consecrated as a nation before God (Ex 24:8). Shavuot occurs 50 days after First Fruit (Lv 23:16).

Moses then goes up Mt. Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights. Exodus 24:13-18 tells us that Moses went up the mountainside with Joshua:

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. (v 15)

It tells us what God’s presence looked like to those down below:

To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. (v17)

After 7 days, Moses went further up the mountain:

Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. (v 18)

Because Moses was on the mountain for so long, the Israelites assumed Moses likely died in the fire on the mountain. To appease the people, Aaron makes a golden calf for the people to worship (Ex 32:4-6).

When Moses came down from the mountain, he broke the stone with the Ten Commandments God had written with his own hand before them (Ex 32:19). This showed his disapproval as well as God disapproval. Moses then destroyed the idol and made the people drink the water with the ashes of the golden calf in it (Ex 32:20). Approximately, three thousand people died that day because of their sin (Ex 32:28). While Moses did intercede for the people, God still sent a plague(Ex 32:35).

Next, Moses takes stone tablets he prepared back up the mountain as God instructed, and he asked to see God (Ex 33:18). Once he was back on the mountain, God granted his request:

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. (Ex 34:5)

This is likely the time Moses was transported to the Transfiguration where he meets Christ—Yahweh or Jehovah.

Once Moses was back at Sinai, God the Father shields him and passes before him. This also confirms that God the Father and God the Son are part of the Godhead as both are referred to as LORD (Yahweh or Jehovah).

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished (Ex 34:6-7a)

This would be a testimony to Moses that Christ who he just met was also God and emphasize what Jesus told him about his coming death to forgive their sin. One of things Jesus spoke to him about was “his departure” (Lk 9:31), i.e., his crucifixion which would soon occur. The word for departure is the same word as exodus. Christ was likely comparing the exodus Moses had with the children of Israel out of Egypt to the exodus he was providing for his people out of their sin and providing for the exodus of the righteous from Sheol. Perhaps this is what prompts Moses to ask God if he would forgive their sin, go with them, and not forsake his people (Ex 34:9). God reiterates his provisional covenant to Moses – prosperity and protection with obedience (Ex 34:10-11).

Moses’ face did not shine until he came down from the mountain with the second version of the Ten Commandments.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. (Ex 34:29)

His face did not shine from being with God previously—only this time. Could the reason be that he was with Christ on Mt. Hermon experiencing Christ’s transfiguration? Moses likely didn’t know he was transported through time but only knew he had encountered the Lord.

After this time, when he went inside the Tent of Meeting, he met with the Shekinah glory of God, which would have been Yahweh, or Christ, as Moses seemed to need to continually wear the veil over his face (Ex 34:34-35).

For Moses, meeting with Christ would be an encouragement to him regarding his ordained mission. It proved far greater than he had ever believed. This likely allowed him to have more compassion and patience with the Israelites. This is not to say that he still did not become frustrated with their actions at times.

This could be a reason Moses was able to predict the coming of Jesus:

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me (Moses) from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. (Dt 18:15)

This likely helped Moses better understand the purpose of the Law given to him. The Tabernacle and its sacrifices were not only requirements but were prophetic in nature. Moses would also better understand he would become a symbol of hope. He represented all those righteous Israelites who die will one day be with their coming Messiah in heaven. Perhaps Jesus told him this. This may also be how Moses could have written about his death and the dispute over his body with Satan before the event actually occurred.

In addition, this could be the genesis of many Jewish leaders understanding the prophetic nature of their feast days and sacrifices. While not necessarily stated in Scripture, many of the Jewish commentaries, like the Mishna, points to a lot of this understanding. Perhaps the genesis for all these understandings came from Moses’ conversations with Christ at his transfiguration. This is different from us today. We see Jesus and what he did and can retrofit his actions and deeds into Old Testament scriptures. The Jews, however, prospectively saw their Messiah fulfilling all these things in their Torah and prophetical scriptures.

While not proof, this likelihood of Moses transported from Sinai to Mt. Hermon for Christ’s Transfiguration does help to explain many things the Israelites would need to piece together as they lived and looked forward to their coming Messiah.

What about Elijah? We’ll discuss him next time. I hope you join me.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

There seems to be a lot of evidence that Jabal al-Lawz, the mountain in northwest Saudia Arabia is the same as the Biblical Mt. Sinai. Both Mt. Sinai and Mt. Hermon are what some call “thin places,” that is, where the earthly and heavenly realms touch each other, and one can have an encounter with God. We know this is true for Moses (Ex 34:5), Elijah (1Ki 19:11), and the apostle Paul (Ga 1:17) at Mt. Sinai. And was certainly true for Peter, James, and John at Mt. Hermon (Lk 9:28-31), as we have discussed.

Yet, some proport that the connection between these two mountains goes even deeper. Some believe that Moses and Elijah were not just brought back but were brought to Mt. Hermon from their own time and place. Meaning that what occurred with Moses, what occurred with Elijah, and what occurred with Jesus all happened at the exact same time. Is this possible?

Well, anything with God is possible. God exists outside time and can see our past, present, and future simultaneously. He would certainly be able to take Moses and Elijah out of each of their own times so they could encounter Jesus together simultaneously. But the question is did he? Such an event would definitely make it even more profound. Is there any proof of such a thing? Perhaps not proof per say, but at least anything to corroborate or show the possibility of such an event?

For this to occur, it would mean that all three would need to be in their place at the same time in their history so they could all be pulled into a meeting out of their time. So, for this to be plausible, both Moses and Elijah would have had to be in the cave on Mt. Sinai at the same time of year as Jesus was on Mt. Hermon. They would then both be brought through time to where Jesus stood on Mt. Hermon. Do we have evidence of that?

As we described when Christ was on Mt. Hermon, it would put him there about two months after Shavuot in the month of Av.

Would the same be true for Moses and Elijah? Could such occur by mere coincidence? Possibly, but likely not probably. I mean, to have Jesus on Mt. Hermon likely on the 15th of Av, have Moses in the cave on Mt. Sinai on the 15th of Av during his encounter with God, and then to have Elijah in the cave on Mt. Sinai on the 15th of Av during his encounter with God seems more than what could happen by mere happenstance. For such to occur, it would have to be by divine appointment. Who but God could achieve such? Did he? Well, let’s explore this. Let’s see the timing of events surrounding Moses’ encounter with God and compare those to Elijah’s encounter with God. It won’t be conclusive, but sometimes circumstantial evidence becomes greater than mere circumstance.

Join me next time as we investigate this quest for clues of time travel for Moses and Elijah.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

In previous posts, we have discussed where the Transfiguration occurred and why it occurred. Now comes the question of why were Moses and Elijah present at Christ’s Transfiguration? What is their significance in being a part of this awe-inspiring event?

Moses represented The Law. This was the bedrock of the Jewish faith. Jesus was stating that he was the one come to fulfill the Law so that he could make a new covenant with Israel, just as the prophet Jeremiah had predicted (Jr 31:31).

Elijah represented The Prophets and the one who became associated with the Messiah’s coming. This part of scripture was the hope given to the Jewish people where a kingdom promised to them would come about and restore all things back to the state like the Garden of Eden was in the beginning, and Israel would be raised to be the nation all nations would look up to.

Jesus is the key to these prophecies. By revealing his glory, he is stating that he is the One and the one with the authority to fulfill all prophecies concerning himself and what he will accomplish. This is why Jesus stated the following during his ministry:

“Do not think I [Jesus Christ] have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Mt 5:17).

Moses gave the hope to the Israelites that those who die will one day be able to be with their Messiah immediately upon death rather than going to Sheol (The Hope Given Us Through Moses). How does Moses represent this? He did not stay buried, but was raised, given a glorified body, and taken to heaven. This caused a dispute between Michael, one of God’s archangels, and Satan (Ju 9). Why? Likely because this was not how things were supposed to work. At that time, all who died, both righteous and unrighteous, went to Sheol. God went against the norm to demonstrate something that would give the Israelites hope: the hope of one day being with their Messiah upon death and not having to reside in Sheol. Jesus was the one who took the righteous ones, captive in Sheol, to be with him in heaven (Ps 68:18; Ep 4:8; Sheol Relocated?). This is why Paul was then able to state that to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord (2Co 5:8).

Elijah gave credence to Christ being the Messiah as Elijah was to herald the Messiah’s coming (Ml 4:5), and he revealed how, one day, some people will be able to be with their Messiah without having to die (The Hope Given Us Through Elijah). This was a prelude to those alive at his coming to be translated without death into their glorified bodies. Why do I say this? Elijah was a prophet who was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot without having to die to get there (2Ki 2:11).

So, Moses and Elijah not only revealed the mission Jesus was performing for mankind, these two Old Testament figures also revealed the future promise that Scripture stated about how the righteous would be with their Messiah forever (What Was Special About Enoch, Moses, and Elijah).

Yet, this event may have yielded information for both Moses and Elijah in their own timeline. We now get into something you may view as being science fiction. Stay with me and see if this gives new insights for us. Perhaps this is something you’ve never considered. Come join me next time as we discuss this.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

In the last few posts, we have addressed the when and where of Christ’s Transfiguration. The next question is the following: Why the Transfiguration? We know that the event was at the end of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee region. This event now marks the beginning of another focus of Christ on his earthly mission. After coming down from the mountain, he teaches for the last time in Capernaum, then goes through Samaria also teaching, and then goes to Jerusalem where he teaches at the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). The rest of his ministry, about six months, was in Judea and Perea. Going forward, he doesn’t return to the Galilee region.

Christ’s Transfiguration was not talked about until after Christ’s resurrection. Jesus told Peter, James, and John the following:

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (Mt 17:9)

Once Christ left the Galilee region, he did not return, so for him to have this event occur on Mt. Hermon, it had to be at this time because he would not be coming back to this region. It was important for the disciples to focus on this event later, but not now. Discussion now would only be a distraction to his new focus: his crucifixion. He had much to still teach them before his crucifixion and did not want them to become distracted from what they now needed to focus on. Christ’s crucifixion was something new to them as well. While, he had mentioned his coming death previously, it was not something the disciples dwelt on or understood. Now, they would need to. Besides, they did not understand Christ’s Transfiguration and all would be speculation on their part at this time. It would make sense to them only after his resurrection. Therefore, Christ’s Transfiguration was for the benefit of the Early Church and down to us today. It reveals the deity of Christ and validates everything he has spoken.

God gave his disciples physical proof of his deity so they could proclaim who he was with the utmost conviction and be able to tell what they had seen and experienced to give credence to their testimony about him and the gospel message they would be spreading.

Maybe Jesus was also making another proclamation—something else that the Gates of Hades could not thwart. Based upon this timeline we discussed earlier, this would put the Transfiguration about two months after Shavuot (Pentecost) and place it in the month Av (July/August). The 15th of Av is known as Tu B’Av, the Day of Love. This was traditionally when the Jewish virgins would avail themselves as being available for matrimony, a precursor to the English tradition of the debutante ball letting society know they were seeking a bridegroom. It has become almost like our Valentine’s Day. Perhaps Jesus used this day to demonstrate and present himself as the bridegroom to his soon-to-be Church. Again, this is something that the Early Church would be able to better understand than the disciples would at this particular time. Peter, James, and John seeing Christ’s divinity would be able to attest to the validity of Christ being the bridegroom and would one day receive his bride, the Church (2Co 11:2; Rv 19:7).

There are other aspects to Christ’s Transfiguration that we need to better understand as well. Why was Moses and Elijah there? Stay tuned. We’ll start to get into this next time. I hope you join me. You may just be surprised.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Last time, we talked about two reasons that Mt. Hermon in northern Israel was likely the mountain on which Christ’s Transfiguration took place: proximity to what Christ was doing with his disciples at the time and the spiritual significance of this particular mountain. Let’s further explore these reasons.

At the foot of Mt. Hermon lay the city of Caesarea Philippi. This was where the head waters of the Jordan river began, creating a lush and very beautiful area. Yet, behind the beauty stood a lot of evil. In the bedrock at the base of this mountain stood a cave that became so deep, the rumor was that it led all the way to Hades, so it had the reputation of being the gateway to the underworld. This area became the place of Baal worship (a god worshipped for the bringing of rain and fertility, and who had been the bane of existence of the nation of Israel almost from its inception); it later became the place for the worship of Pan (a demi-god being half human, half goat) who was worshipped through practices of bestiality to gain his favor and ensure the fertility of their herds. It was also a place where divinations were made by looking at the entrails of animals. The Greeks named the city Panias in Pan’s honor. The Romans added their influence as well. When Herod Philip was given this area to rule, he built up this area and named it after himself and dedicated it to Caesar, hence the name Caesarea Philippi. Philip also instituted the worship of Caesar here as well by building a temple here in his honor.

This was the place where Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was and who they believed he was. Peter stated, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). Jesus then states, “And I tell you that you are Peter (Jesus used the Greek word petros meaning stone, a small rock), and on this rock (Jesus used the Greek word petra meaning something much larger than a stone, often referring to bedrock or a cliff, likely referring to the proclamation Peter had just stated) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” While they were standing at what was touted as the gateway to Hades, Christ is saying that what Satan has erected will not be able to stand against what he, Jesus, was going to build. Also, death itself is known as the gate of Hades, so not even death itself will be able to stand against what Christ would build, i.e., his Church.

I think Christ used Mt. Hermon for his Transfiguration because of the mountain’s history and what was currently going on in this geographic region, making a statement that despite all that Satan had erected here, he was no match for his glory and his plan.

Mt. Hermon was believed to be the place the angels came down and married human women as recorded in Genesis 6. So, Mt. Hermon had a long history of how Satan held influence over the affairs of men and their belief system.

Christ is proclaiming that this belief system will soon be shattered by what he would do. His Transfiguration is the proof of his power to be able to do just that.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

There is somewhat of a debate about where Christ’s Transfiguration occurred. Some say Mt. Tabor and others say Mt. Hermon. As the Biblical Scriptures do not specify the specific mountain Jesus and his disciples climbed, can we really know? Well, let’s look at each of these mountains more closely.

Mt. Tabor is within the Jezreel Valey southwest of the Sea of Galilee. It is a mountain that Jesus and his disciples would be familiar with as it is a prominent feature in this area. While its height, approximately 2,000 feet, is not necessarily impressive, it looks more impressive because of the flat plain area within which it is located. It does have an important prominence in Israel’s history. When Joshua was dividing the land of Canaan for the twelve tribe of Israel, Mt. Tabor was a prominent landmark boundary utilized for demonstrating the boundary lines for Zebulun (Js 19:12), Issachar (Js 19:22), and Naphtali (Js 19:34). This was the place where the prophetess Deborah summoned Barak to gather his army (Jd 4:1-24) to go against their enemy, the Canaanite army; it was the place Gideon avenged the death of his brothers by the Midianite kings (Jd 8:18-21), and it was one of the high places where idol worship was performed (Ho 5:1). It was declared the place of Christ Transfiguration in 326 AD by Queen Helena, the mother of Emperor Constatine. During the first century, beacons were often lit here to communicate timing of holy days to northern Israel. It may also have been used militarily and had a wall built around it during this time as well, as referenced by the Jewish historian Josephus.

Mt. Hermon on the other hand is in the northwestern part of Israel and is as high as 9.000 feet in places with snow-capped peaks. It is also prominent in Israel’s history as it was the northern boundary of the land conquered by Joshua (Dt 3:8; Js 11:17) and marked the northern boundary of the half tribe of Manasseh and for Israel in general (1Ch 5:23). At the base of this mountain was the city Caesarea Philippi where Jesus had taken his disciples (Mt 16:13) just before he had his Transfiguration. Since this mountain is closer to this area than Mt. Tabor, it may be more likely the mountain scripture is referring to for Christ’s Transfiguration. It was also a place more secluded than Mt. Tabor where Jesus could be alone with his disciples (Mk 9:2).

Mt. Hermon also had a spiritual history that also makes it a more likely candidate for Christ’s Transfiguration to occur here. Next time we’ll go over what was spiritually significant about this area and how Christ used it to make a specific declaration about himself and what he was going to accomplish. Sound intriguing? Then stay tuned for next time when we’ll go over these spiritual aspects which, unfortunately, have a very dark side to them.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

We often refer to Jesus as being 100% God and 100% man. There are many Scriptures we can point to where he tells us this as he called himself Son of Man as well as Son of God. It is likely easier for us, and especially Jesus’ disciples, to see and understand his humanity, but what about his divinity? Well, he settled this once and for all at his Transfiguration.

Yet, this event leaves us with quite a few questions: Why did he wait until near the end of his ministry to demonstrate his glory to Peter, James, and John? And why did he ask them to keep it a secret from the others? And why did he have both Moses and Elijah participate in this event? These are things I want us to explore together.

This event is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke). All three have almost identical descriptions. Here is how Luke described the event:

About 8 days after Jesus said this [referring to a conversation Jesus had with his disciples in Caesarea Philippi], he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. (Lk 9:28-31; similar in Mt 17:1-3, & Mk 9:2-4)

While John does not describe the event, he alludes to seeing Christ’s glory which likely refers to him seeing Jesus in his transfigured state. He states:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [Son], who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn 1:14)

Therefore, each gospel writer felt it important to include this event in their record of events of Jesus’ ministry.

This brings us to the first question to resolve: When did this event occur?

From Scripture we know that it occurred between Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). In the second year of his ministry, John 6 tells us that Passover was near when he taught and fed the 5,000 on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. He was still in the Galilee region when it was time for the Feast of Tabernacles, which we see in John 7. He did not go with his family to Jerusalem for the feast but went at a later date.

So, there is a five-month window for the Transfiguration to occur. The Synoptic Gospels record that the Transfiguration occurred sometime after the feeding of the 5,000. Can we tell within this 5-month window when it most likely occurred?

Between Passover (which occurred during the 1st month of the Jewish calendar), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot, which occurred during the seventh month of the Jewish calendar) is the feast of Shavuot (Pentecost or Feast of Weeks) which occurred in the 3rd month (Sivan). According to Jewish Scriptures (the Torah), each of these feasts required their celebration to be held in Jerusalem by the men of the nation. Yet, during the 1st century, it was not necessarily expected that all Jewish men would be able to keep all three feasts in Jerusalem. Therefore, we don’t know for sure if Jesus went to Jerusalem for this feast or not. Yet, if he was a devout Jew, he likely did. And if he did, then we can figure out some of the timing between this feast and the event of his Transfiguration.

If Jesus did go to Jerusalem for Shavuot (Pentecost), his journey back to the Galilee region would take approximately one week if he traveled without hurrying.

It would then take about 40 days for him to complete his Galilean ministry and take his disciples to Caesarea Philippi, north of the Galilee region. Why do I say 40 days? Well, he not only did things in Galilee, but also in Bethsaida on the northern shore of Galilee, and then north of Galilee in Tyre and Sidon; he then traveled to Caesarea Philippi.

Scripture tells us it took about a week for Jesus to travel to and up Mt. Hermon with his disciples (Lk 9:28). It is believed that Mt. Hermon was the place that the Transfiguration occurred. Some teach the event occurred on Mt. Tabor, but that mountain is southwest of the Sea of Galilee and not near Caesarea Philippi and does not have the same spiritual significance as does Mt. Hermon.

What was special about Mt. Hermon? We’ll discuss that next time. I hope you join me.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Most of the focus at Christmastime is on the birth of Christ itself as that is what the Christmas story is all about. However, we need to also understand what Joseph, and especially Mary, had to go through for Jesus to be born during the time they lived with the customs and mores of the day. This event was extraordinary in more ways than one. This story below is from a viewpoint of a family in Nazareth who were associated with Joseph and, like Joseph, had to come to grips with what God was doing through Mary.

Mary Returns

Approximately 60 miles north of Jerusalem and 20 miles west of the Sea of Galilee lies a small inconsequential town called Nazareth. Running past the town well and across the street, a young girl in her teen’s bursts through the doorway of a small, but well-kept house where her mother is preparing the evening meal. “Ima! Ima!” she shouts. “She’s back! Mary’s back!”

Rebecca whips around, at first afraid her daughter is hurt, but then sighs in relief when she sees her unharmed—just excited. She then sees her youngest daughter, Hannah, follow Rachel into the house, now out of breath, as her younger and smaller legs had quite the workout to keep up with her older sister by about five years. Her cornsilk doll dangles and jostles as she runs to catch up holding it by its cloth arm.

“Gracious, Rachel,” Rebecca says. “You gave me such a fright.”

Rachel stops in her tracks, now looking somewhat sheepish. “Sorry, Ima.” Her eyes then brighten again. “May I go see her? It’s been a little over six months since she went to visit her cousin. She must have so much to tell me of her adventure.”

“Well . . .,” Rebecca begins, glancing at the food she is preparing knowing she needs her daughter’s help to get the meal finished on time as her husband, Eli, will expect.

“Yeah,” Hannah chimes in, “and she’s fat.”

Rebecca scrunches her brow and focuses on her youngest daughter, now noticing the dirt on her cheeks. “What? What do you mean? And how did you get so dirty so fast?” Rebecca wets her thumb with her tongue and begins wiping Hannah’s cheeks.

Hannah squirms. “Ima!” she says with irritation. She then speaks with exasperation. “I said, she’s fat. Her cousin must be wealthy.”

Rebecca shakes her head. “No, they’re no better off than we are.”

“Then why is she so fat?” Hannah asks, looking quite determined to know the answer to her question.

“What’s all the commotion?” Eli asks as he lays some stones down next to the doorway. “I was going to repair our courtyard, but I heard something about being fat.”

Rachel turns to her father. “May I go see Mary? She just got back.”

Eli cocks his head. “Mary?”

Rachel sighs. “Really, Abba. Mary. You know, my best friend, Mary.”

“Oh, she’s back?”

Rachel nods but her look indicates she feels her father is slow on the uptake.

“And she’s fat,” Hannah reiterates.

“Hannah, that’s not nice,” Rachel says in a somewhat scolding manner.

Hannah crosses her arms over her abdomen. “Well, she is.”

Eli’s gaze goes to Rebecca as his eyebrows raise, the tell-tale sign of asking for clarity. Rebecca motions with her head for Eli to come closer. She then turns to the girls.

“Why don’t the two of you go wash up? We’ll discuss when you can go visit at dinner.”

Rachel sighs with disappointment. “Yes, Ima.”

Both girls leave the room.

Eli walks over and says in almost a whisper. “I can only think of one thing that could make a young girl . . .” He does air quotes. “. . . fat.”

Rebecca nods. “My thoughts exactly.”

Eli shakes his head. “Joseph is going to be heartbroken. He’s my best friend. I’ve known him for many years. A good carpenter and craftsman. Very devout. Would have made a good provider. I can’t imagine what he’s feeling.”

“You don’t think . . .” Rebecca starts, but then stops herself. “No, it . . . it couldn’t be.” She cocks her head. “But that won’t stop the rumors.”

Eli’s eyes widen. “Rebecca! I’m surprised you would insinuate such a thing. Joseph is as honorable as they come. He would never engage in such a thing before their union is officially sanctioned.”

“I know, I know,” Rebecca says. “But, think about it, Eli. She leaves right after their betrothal. Now it’s a little over six months, and she’s showing.”

Eli shakes his head. “No. That cannot be a possibility.” He looks at her sternly. “And don’t you go start any such rumor as that. Eldad’s wife can spread a rumor faster than lightning, so don’t you dare even suggest such a thing to her.”

Rebecca holds up her hands. “I would never, Eli! Yet I don’t think I will have to say anything for such a rumor to start.”

Eli exhales hard through his nose in exasperation. “Poor Joseph. He’s likely hurt and confused. He’s talked about nothing over the last six months but him looking forward to making a life with Mary.” He paces for a minute in thought and then turns back to his wife. “A Roman! I bet a Roman took advantage of her.”

Rebecca’s eyes grow wide. “Well, that doesn’t make it any better!”

“It does for Joseph, though. He’ll be able to annul the marriage quickly and legitimately.”

Rebecca puts her hand to her cheek. “Oh, the shame for her family.”

“I’m going to go see Jospeh. He must be beside himself. Likely in shock right now and needs the support.”

“Bring him over for dinner. It’s not good for him to be by himself right now.”

Eli nods. “Good idea.” He kisses his wife on her cheek. “Be back soon.”

With that he leaves, travelling at a quick gait.

Joseph’s Response

Hannah’s chin lay in her palm with her arm propped on the table. “I’m hungry, Ima. Can’t we go ahead and eat?”

“We have to wait for Abba,” Rachel says. “You know that.”

Hannah sticks out her bottom lip. “All I know is my stomach is hungry.”

Rebecca knows she can’t keep the girls waiting all night, and if Eli returns with Joseph, she doesn’t want the girls to hear their conversation. She suddenly sits upright with a big smile on her face.

“I know. Why don’t I prepare a plate for you girls, and you eat your dinner on the roof.”

Hannah suddenly sits up with a quick change in disposition with eyes bright. “Really, Ima? You haven’t let us do that in ages.”

Rebecca quickly puts food on separate plates. Rachel pours water into two clay cups and hands them to Hannah. “Take these up to the roof and I’ll bring up your plate. All right?”

Hannah nods enthusiastically, putting her doll’s cloth arm between her teeth and then takes the two cups, one in each hand, out the door to go up the outside stairs to the roof.

Once Hannah leaves, Rachel turns to her mom. “What’s going on, Ima? I know there’s something you’re not telling me. It’s about Mary, isn’t it?”

Rebecca puts her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow about it. I promise.”

Rachel gives her mother a hard look, but then nods. “Okay. I’m Mary’s best friend, so if it is about her, I want to know.”

Rebecca nods. “Yes, I know. I agree.”

As she heads toward the door, Eli walks in with Joseph. Rachel pauses. “Hannah and I are going to eat on the roof. Ima’s suggestion.”

Eli smiles. “Great idea.” He walks over and kisses his daughter on the top of her head. “I’ll come and get you when it’s time to come back down. Joseph and I need to have a conversation.”

Rachel glances at Joseph who gives a weak smile. “Have fun under the stars. Sounds like a treat.”

She smiles back at Joseph and gives a nod to her father. “Yes, Abba.”

“Sorry to be late,” Eli says as he turns to Rebecca. “I waited for Joseph to talk to Mary’s family.” He then leans in close to Rebecca as he passes her, leading Joseph to the table, and whispers, “I don’t think it went very well.”

Rebecca’s eyebrows raise in anticipation of hearing the encounter, but she knows more than to ask a direct question. She simply nods but hopes Eli will elaborate. After serving, she sits at the other end of the table across from Eli with Joseph between them. She wants to be able to see Eli’s expressions as he and Joseph talk.

Eli turns to Joseph. “You never really said what happened. It was a Roman soldier, wasn’t it?”

Joseph looks solemn but simply shakes his head.

Eli takes a sip of the soup broth and then cocks his head. “No?” He glances at his wife giving a wide-eyed look like Joseph’s news proves even more devastating.”

Eli’s hand goes to Joseph’s arm. “Don’t tell me it was by a fellow Israelite.”

Rebecca gives a slight gasp but tries to quieten it with her hand going to her mouth.

Joseph simply shakes his head again.

Eli gives another glance at Rebecca, giving a slight shrug. He then turns his attention back to his friend.

“Joseph, tell me. What happened? Who is the culprit?” He pats Joseph’s forearm. “I’m with you. We’ll face this together.”

Joseph looks up slowly, focusing on Eli. “She said it was no one.”

Eli sits upright, head jerking back. “What? No one. How?”

Rebecca tilts her head slightly, giving Eli a look of disbelief. She knows it can’t be no one.

Joseph did not take his gaze off Eli who then starts to look uncomfortable. “She said she was visited by an angel shortly before she left to visit her cousin Elizabeth and was sometime later impregnated by God’s Spirit.”

[The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Lk 1:35), NIV]

Eli glances back at Rebecca. She knows her eyes are now as wide as they could possibly be. He gives a slight nod and focuses back on Joseph, saying quietly but with a tone of disbelief, “And . . . you believe such a thing?”

He gives a shrug. “To be honest, I’m not sure what to believe. Scripture does tell us of such a thing.”

[Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Is 7:14), NIV]

“Well, yes,” Eli says, sounding doubtful. “But why would such an honor go to Mary? Who is she—or anyone in Nazareth for that matter? No one in this village is important enough to bear such a blessing. Wouldn’t it need to be someone of prominence so our Messiah could gain the influence and following needed to overcome Rome, and set Israel up as a nation to be superior to all nations.”

“She said the angel Gabriel told her the child would be called Son of the Most High, God would give him the throne of his father David, and his kingdom would never end.”

[You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end. (Lk 1:31-33, NIV)]

Eli scrunches his brow.

Rebecca thinks this all so bizarre.

“Yes,” Eli says, “but how is that supposed to happen?” He puts his hand back on Joseph’s forearm. “Is she just using Scripture to get out of a stoning?”

Joseph squints. “Stoning?” He glances from Eli to Rebecca and back. “Who said anything about a stoning?”

“What choice do you have, Joseph? You either admit you are the father, which you aren’t, right?”

Joseph shakes his head.

“Or you admit the child is not yours and that means she broke her purity vow which has a penalty of death by stoning.”

A look of horror comes over Joseph’s face. “Eli, you know I have loved Mary for quite some time. She has always been an honorable woman. I can’t have such a thing happen to her.”

“But her purity has been ruined . . .” Rebecca starts, but then catches herself.

Joseph shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. If I don’t accuse her, she will not be stoned. I will divorce her and let her live.”

“So much shame to bear, though,” Eli says.

Tears well up in Joseph’s eyes as he puts his head in his hands and begins to shake his head back and forth. “I don’t know what to do . . . or how to handle this.” He looks back up with tear-stained cheeks. “I still love her, Eli, despite what she did, or what someone did to her. I know I can’t go through with the marriage now, but I still care for her.”

“You’re not angry?”

“Of course I’m angry!” Joseph blurts out emphatically. “Happiness has been ripped from my heart and has left it raw and bleeding.” He shakes his head. “But she’s not to blame. I know our custom is for a woman to protect her purity, but how can a woman do such if a man wishes to take it from her?”

Joseph suddenly stands. “Thank you, Eli and Rebecca, for your hospitality. But I’m not hungry. I just want to go home and be alone.”

Eli stands. “I’ll walk with you.”

Joseph shakes his head. “No. Thanks anyway. I just want to think.”

Eli nods and they both watch Joseph leave looking more forlorn than they have ever seen him before.

Joseph Accepts His Role

Eli comes in and plops down at the table where Rebecca and Rachel are kneading dough and gives a sigh.

“How did the town council meeting go?” Rebecca asks.

Eli shakes his head. “Not well.”

He glances at Rachel. “Sweetie, can you give your Ima and me some time alone to discuss?”

Rachel gives her mom a pleading look.

“Uh, Eli, she already knows everything.”

Eli’s eyes widen. “Everything?”

Rebecca nods.

“Is that wise? I mean. She’s still young.”

Rachel sighs and sits next to her father, wiping her hands on a cloth. “Really, Abba. I’m only a year younger than Mary and I saw you talking to Jesse’s parents the other day. That was about me, right?”

“Well . . .” He gives a glance to Rebecca as if to say, ‘help me.’

She simply gives a shrug. “Well, she has a point, Eli. In another year, she’ll be going through something similar.”

Eli sits up straighter. “Similar? Well, I certainly hope not!”

Rebecca gives a dismissive wave. “Oh, you know what I mean. All the township scrutiny she’ll be subjected to. They talk about you because of something you did or didn’t do. We protect our daughters, which I certainly agree with, but then don’t really prepare them for what marriage is really like. And the women of the town, rather than support, criticize until the new bride learns to develop a backbone and stand up for herself. We can do better for Rachel.”

“I hear you, but I don’t think anything would have prepared Joseph or Mary for this scenario.”

“No, probably not,” Rebecca says.

“But why not?” Rachel asks. “Isn’t it part of Scripture?”

“Now, Rachel,” Eli begins, “This is different.”

“Is it? I don’t mean any disrespect, Abba, but I had a long talk with Mary.”

Eli sits more upright. “You went against my wishes?”

“No!” She shuffles in her seat. “I mean, yes. I . . . I guess.” She gives a slight shrug. “Mary was so desperate for an ear. I just had to, Abba. I just had to. Joseph has you to talk to, but she has no one. None of the women in this town will talk to her or try to understand her point of view. They shun her at every turn and won’t even be seen at the well with her. They feel her guilt is cut and dry. Some even question why she’s still alive.”

“What?! Who? Who would say that?”

“The wives of the men who are saying the same thing,” Rebecca says. “You must admit, Eli. Not many are on their side.”

Eli sighs. “And probably even less after today.”

Rebecca stops her kneading and sits while wiping her hands with a damp cloth, giving Eli a questioning look. “What happened?”

“He admitted the child was his.”

Rebecca sucks in a breath. “No!” she says in disbelief. “Why would he do that?”

Rachel looks from her mother to her father and shakes her head. “Why wouldn’t he? After all, he is the child’s earthly father.”

“That’s a strange thing to say,” Eli says. “What did Mary tell you?”

“Abba, she’s scared. She knows the angel told her she would bear the Messiah. He even told her what to name the child. Why can’t everyone just believe her?”

Eli puts his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Dear, it’s just, that is not how babies are made.”

“But this is not any baby. It’s the prophesied baby. You’ve told me the story so many times. Didn’t you believe what you told me?”

“Well, yes, of course. But to have that fulfilled here in our small town with people of no consequence? That seems a little . . .”

“Strange?” Rachel asks.

Eli nods.

“Don’t you think Mary and Joseph feel the same way? Abba, you’ve told me of many prophets who went against what was popular with people to tell the message God gave them. Is this any different?”

Eli rubs his chin but then chuckles. “You sound somewhat like Joseph today.”

“What do you mean?”

“He said he has no idea why God chose him but that night after he left our house after talking with Mary’s parents, an angel also visited him in a dream and told him the same story the angel told Mary, and even said the child would take away the sins of his people.”

[An angel of the Lord said: You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. (Mt 1:21, NIV)]

Eli’s eyebrows raise as he cocks his head. “And that went over poorly with the council, I might add. Yet ever since his dream, he’s been adamant that the child, while not his physically, is his because God deemed it so. Therefore, he is not going to go against God just because some . . .” He does air quotes. “. . . narrow minded old men . . . would not believe that Scripture could be fulfilled in their lifetime.”

Rebecca’s hand goes to her cheek. “Oh, my! He didn’t really say that, did he?”

Eli chuckles. “I cringed when he said it. But I have to say, I admire him for his stance. He believes this wholeheartedly. He’s going to take Mary to Bethlehem for this new census that’s been imposed on us.”

Rebecca’s eyes narrow. “Why does he have to go to Bethlehem?”

“He’s from the tribe of Judah and a descendant of King David,” Eli says, with a chuckle to follow. “I knew I always liked him. That makes me a friend of royalty.”

Rebecca smiles. “Well, I don’t think that gives us any advantages, though.”

“But that proves it, don’t you think?” Rachel asks. “It’s like you tell us, Abba. The Messiah will be a descendant of King David but the curse on King Jehoiachin, who is in the Messianic lineage, put many Jewish leaders in a quandary to explain it.”

Eli looks at his daughter with admiration. “Rachel, that’s profound. So, by Jospeh claiming the child as his own, this makes him a legitimate heir of King David, but not from the lineage of King Jehoiachin.”

Rachel nods, giving a smile.

“And how did you get so smart?” Eli asks as he chuckles. “I may have to reconsider marrying you off to Jesse.”

Rachel puts her hand on her father’s forearm. “Oh, please don’t, Abba.” Her cheeks turn a blush. “I think you made a wise choice.”

Eli looks at Rebecca and they both grin.

After gaining her composure, Rachel asks, “So, what happens now?”

Eli cocks his head and gives a small shrug. “It’s all up to God now.”

Leaving Nazareth

Eli continues his discussion with his daughter and wife. He knows Joseph has a long and dangerous journey ahead of him.

“How long will it take them to reach Bethlehem, Abba?” Rachel asks.

Eli tilts his head in thought. “Hmm. Several days, for sure. Even longer with Mary being pregnant. Yet I know Joseph is anxious to get away from all the stares and whispers directed toward them by many of the townsfolk.”

Rebecca shakes her head. “A lot of risk with her being with child, though.”

“Perhaps. But there will be many traveling in their direction. There is always more safety in numbers.”

Rebecca nods. “True. That’s at least a comfort. But where will they stay once they get there?”

“Joseph and Mary will stay with one of his relatives in Bethlehem until the census is over,” Eli says.

“As long as she doesn’t deliver while there,” Rebecca replies. “Our purity laws can make things complicated.”

Eli pauses in thought. “Well, if God has given them this commission, I’m sure he can work out the details of the child’s birth as well.”

“Midgal Eder,” Rachel says.

“What, dear?” Eli asks as he gives her a questioning look.

“Remind Joseph of Migdal Eder. You told us many times that some of your religious teachers said the prophet Micah was predicting the coming Messiah would be born at Migdal Eder, the watchtower of the flock. Isn’t that near Bethlehem?”

Eli nods. “Yes, just outside the city limit, I believe. That’s where the Bethlehem shepherds take care of the temple sheep the priests use for their various offerings and feast days. These shepherds ensure the sheep are without any blemishes so the priests will accept them for temple sacrifice.”

“Maybe that’s where Joseph is supposed to go so his son can be born,” Rachel says, giving a shrug. “Sounds like the right place.”

“I’ll certainly mention it to him. It could at least be a contingency plan.” He chuckles. “You surprise me, Rachel. I never knew you paid so close attention to the stories I tell you and Hannah. Speaking of Hannah. Where is she?”

“Oh, she’s next door playing house with some of her friends.”

“Hmm,” Eli says as his eyes twinkle. “Maybe you should get some tips from her then of how to be a homemaker since she’s getting so much practice for domestic duties.” He then raises his eyebrows and says in a teasing manner, “Jesse wants the very best, you know.”

Rachel gives her father a silly face. “Not funny.”

Eli reaches over and kisses her on her forehead. “The two of you will be good for each other. He’s a hard worker and you’re a brain. You’ll make him look good to all his peers.”

Rebecca nods. “And he’ll adore you all the more.”

“And if the Messiah is finally here,” Rachel says, “then it seems we’ll be living in awesome times.”

“Interesting times at any rate,” Eli says. “Let’s have an early dinner and get ready for bed so we can see Joseph and Mary off on their journey to Bethlehem in the morning. Joseph wants to get an early start tomorrow. My guess is that they will not have many supporters for that.”

“It’s so far for someone in her condition, though,” Rebecca says.

“True,” Eli agrees. “But it will give them time to know each other better and get any hard feelings out of the way. They will only have themselves to lean on. That has to be a good thing, doesn’t it?”

Rebecca nods. “Yes, I suppose so. Both dangerous and exciting at the same time.”

“I just can’t wait to hear of her adventures when she gets back and tells me of all the different types of people she met while there,” Rachel says. “You think they’ll meet anyone of importance?”

Eli rubs his chin in thought. “Well, I don’t think anyone more important than the Messiah, for sure.”

Rachel smiles. “Then maybe God will let others know our Messiah is here so they can visit him.” Her eyes widen. “Like shepherds, for instance.”

Eli’s eyes narrow as if he is in doubt of her statement. “What makes you say that? How would they know?”

Rachel looks at her mom. Rebecca shrugs. “Don’t look at me. You two seem to be the ones putting this puzzle together.”

Rachel turns back to Eli. “Well, I’m sure God can inform them somehow. Yet if Mary’s son is born at Migdal Eder, the watchtower of the flock, then the shepherds will most likely know they are there and become curious to their visit and will go see why they have come.”

Eli gives a slight nod. “Perhaps. Also, I do recall some of our Jewish teachers reading some passages from Psalms and Isaiah which indicate, or at least imply, kings from the east will bring gifts. I recall the passage in Psalms saying: ‘Young camels of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD’ (Is 60:6, NIV). Some say this refers to King Solomon.”

“Oh, like the Queen of Sheba who brought gifts to him?” Rachel asks.

Eli nods. “Precisely, but the tense of the words by Isaiah seem to indicate some future time of such an event. He said, ‘Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD’ (Is 60:6).”

Rachel’s eyes widen. “Like now?”

Eli cocks his head. “Could be. Maybe we’ll hear what happened on their journey once they get back.”

“Well, I can hardly wait,” Rachel says, looking excited. “I just know it’s going to be epic.” She pauses, but then blurts out, “Can you believe it? Our Messiah is almost here! How much more epic can it get?”

They each hug. Rachel goes to get Hannah, and Rebecca begins getting dinner completed. Eli sits in thought. He always believed Scripture but is now realizing that he is going to be living Scripture now.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The previous blog posts have talked about the Mosaic Law requiring eight sacrifices and each dealing with a specific heart or relational issue. Only through Christ can we be transferred from Satan’s kingdom into which we are all born and be able to enter Christ’s kingdom. This is the fulfilled symbolism of the burnt offering. By partaking and learning from him we can grow in him which is called the process of sanctification. This is the fulfillment of the grain offering. Christ’s sacrifice has restored the fellowship with God which was severed due to Adam’s sin. And this is the fulfillment of the peace or fellowship offering. And because we now have fellowship with him, our communication with him has been resorted—representing the need for the sin offering. And not only between God and us, but with each other with the guilt we suffered removed as symbolized by the guilt offering. God is pleased with being able to do this for us, which is represented by the drink offering, and he can be joyful because he no longer remembers any of our sins any longer, as the scapegoat represents. Even though he has paid for all our sins, past, present, and future, we still become unclean by living in a sinful world and because of our human nature, so he provides us continual cleansing if we only confess to him thereby making us clean again as symbolized by the ashes of the red heifer.

While the sacrificial system under the Mosaic Law was quite cumbersome, we can see through this that each was necessary because sin entraps us in more ways than one. Yet, Jesus Christ was able to untangle us completely, declaring us righteous, and thereby fit to be with him forever with the approval of the Father and with the enablement of the Holy Spirit.

So, what does all this mean for us? Christ is now fulfilling his second role for coming. We find this in Hebrews: “Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being. Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ But in fact, the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises (Hb 8:1-7).”

What are these better promises? Let’s compare the promises from the Old and New Covenants. We could likely make a litany of promises to list, but here are a few key ones:

Old Covenant: Holy Spirit was not permanent; New Covenant: Holy Spirit is permanent. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come and go. This is one reason David prayed for the LORD to not take his Spirit from him. Today, once we accept Christ as our Savior, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us forever.

Old Covenant: justice was required by the Law because of one’s actions; New Covenant: mercy is applied instead. Because Christ paid for our sins, we can receive mercy rather than justice because Christ’s blood paid what justice required.

Old Covenant: there was no victory over death (all went to Sheol whether they were just or unjust, although there were different places within Sheol for each category); Yet neither were with Christ, their Messiah. Satan still controlled the keys to death and Sheol. New Covenant: we have received victory over death because, once we die, if we have accepted Christ as our Savior, we will be with Christ our Messiah at that moment and forever. Christ took the righteous to heaven and gained back the keys to death and Sheol.

Old Covenant: no power over sin; sacrifices were required and had to be repeated often; New Covenant: we have power over sin because Christ paid for our past, present, and future sins. We can have the mind of Christ and can operate within the same power that raised Christ from the dead because we have the Holy Spirit within us.

Old Covenant: people lived with a hope of their coming Messiah; New Covenant: we have an assurance of an eternity with Christ, our Messiah, forever.

What is Required? Romans 10:10 says, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and be saved.”

We must first realize something. What does that mean? It means to become aware of something as a fact. What is that fact? That we are wicked at heart. Jeremiah tells us the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jr 17:9).

We then need to believe. What does that really mean? It means we accept something as true. What do we need to accept? That Christ died on the cross for our sins and has freed us from the power of sin over us.

That leads us to confess. Meaning what? We must admit we are at fault in some way. We confess what we just realized: that we are a sinner and cannot change that fact on our own. Then we confess our belief in what Christ did for us knowing there is no other way or no other hope for us.

Next, we accept. And that means to take something offered to you. Christ paid the debt required for our sin and did so as a gift to us, but that does us no good unless we accept this gift. While it is free to us, it was quite costly for Christ. How can we not accept something so preciously obtained? By doing so, we receive the Holy Spirit which dwells within us, guides us, and helps us to be more like Christ as we walk with Him.

Then, we live with assurance. How is that done? One makes one’s home in a particular place with a particular person. By accepting this precious but free gift of salvation, we can know with certainty that our home will be with Christ forever. His presence dwells with us now and forever.

It has always been about the heart. The real question is: to whom does yours belong?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Christ came with the purpose of fulfilling three roles that are laid out for him in the Old Testament: Prophet, Priest, and King. Each must be fulfilled in a successive manner because each subsequent role was built upon the fulfillment of the previous role.

Moses stated, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him” (Dt 18:15). Jesus Christ came as a prophet like Moses. How like Moses? He cared deeply for his people, he was patient with them and taught them, he was also harsh at times with the Jewish leaders because they distorted the true intent of Torah; some people adored him, and others ridiculed and despised him. This role of Christ was necessary for him to come and pay the price for the sin of rebellion that Adam placed upon the world and its inhabitants and to fulfill all requirements of the Mosaic Law. Christ could not fulfill the other duties until this one was complete. He came not just for the Jews, but for the entire world.

The writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess” (Hb 4:14). Christ fulfilling his role as prophet set him up for this next role as our high priest to make intercession for us, cleanse us as we sin, and as we are sanctified and carry out his plan of building his Church, his bride, until his return. His Holy Spirit then provides the unity in his bride so she will be pure and without blemish at his return.

Once Christ’s role as our high priest and intercessor is fulfilled, he will come as King of kings and set up his earthly rule. The book of Revelation tells us, “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rv 19:16). This is what the Jewish leaders were expecting from Jesus when he first came because the Scriptures prescribed these actions to their coming Messiah. Yet, these duties had to be performed in a certain order to accomplish God’s plan for the entire world.

So, at Christ’s first coming, he fulfilled the eight sacrifices we have been discussing over the last several posts. Join me next time and I’ll summarize this, how Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law, and how he set up the way for his New Covenant with us.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

There are three places where Christ’s crucifixion was possible. There are pros and cons to each of them. Some are quite adamant about one of these three. Yet I don’t think there is hard-fast evidence of either one. Each has merit. Let’s see where they are located.

One of the most-held beliefs of where Christ was crucified is at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Its location is outside the western city gate of Old Jerusalem and would have been on a main thoroughfare which led traffic to and from Damascus. This is probably the place most Catholics and many Protestants revere and celebrate as the place of Christ’s crucifixion. It receives thousands of visitors each year. It is located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City and close to both the Jaffa and Damascus Gates.

The second most-held belief of the place of Christ’s crucifixion is the Garden Tomb. It is located not far from the Damascus Gate on the north side of the city. Its location would have been near a main thoroughfare going into the city. It is quite peaceful and beautiful there. Probably more Protestants than Catholics revere this site as the place of Christ’s crucifixion and burial. The city’s bus depot is just on the other side of the garden wall and adjacent to it is a place that looks somewhat like a skull and the main reason it is thought to be the place of Calvary where Jesus was crucified.

Some people believe that neither of these places are correct. If Christ was to fulfill all eight of the sacrifices mentioned in the Mosaic Law, then he would need to be crucified near where the red heifer was sacrificed and that would be on the Mount of Olives near the Garden of Gethsemane. Near the base of the mount is the Church of Nations (Basilica of the Agony) and the Garden of Gethsemane is right next to it. This would also be near a main road to get to Jerusalem coming in from Jericho, through Bethany, and then through Bethphage at the top of the Mount of Olives (although that town is not there today). Jewish graves would be below the bridge and could be a potential place for Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb. Many Jews clamored to be buried here. Therefore, typically, only the wealthy could afford the price to be buried here. Most Jews believed their Messiah would enter Jerusalem from the east when he came to set up his kingdom and resurrect the faithful. Then they would be among the first resurrected so they would then be able to enter the Eastern Gate with him.

No matter which of these places you believe is the place of Christ’s crucifixion, it is important to know that this was an actual event of history and set the stage for his New Covenant. But was this the only role that Christ needed to fulfill when he came? Join me next time and we’ll discuss that subject.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

There is a unique offering of a red heifer that was made to prepare water for cleansing (Nu 19:1-22). The ashes from this sacrifice mixed with water was used to cleanse anyone who encountered death in some form or fashion. The priest who oversaw the sacrifice, the one who burned the animal, and the one who gathered up the ashes each had to wash after their duties were fulfilled before he could enter the city, and he remained unclean until the sun set. The Jewish rabbis taught that this sacrifice was a great mystery because those clean became unclean producing the ashes that made the unclean clean.

There were several specific requirements for this sacrifice and they all parallel the actions Christ did on the cross and what he accomplished doing that for us.

The animal had to be a heifer (female). This was the only sacrifice that required the animal to be female. Other sacrifices were male or could be either male or female. Yet this one was specifically required to be female. Christ’s body is the Church, his bride. The heifer was required to be female because life comes through females; also, all those in Christ become his bride.

The animal also had to be without defects or blemish, and had to be completely red, likely symbolizing blood. The animal could never have been under a yoke. We know that Christ never submitted himself to anyone but God, the Father. The entire body of the animal was sacrificed. According to the Jewish Midrash (something akin to a Jewish scripture commentary), the heifer was brought to the place of sacrifice on her own, that is, she went voluntarily to the Mount of Olives to her place of sacrifice. Christ offered himself willingly for us as well.

The heifer was sacrificed outside the camp, just as Christ was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem, and the heifer was forced to face west (toward the tabernacle). In the Midrash we read, “A causeway was made from the temple mount to the Mount of Olives, being constructed of arches above arches, each arch placed directly above each pier as a protection against a grave in the depths, whereby the priest who was to burn the cow, the cow itself, and all who aided in its preparation went forth to the Mount of Olives” (Misnah Parah 3:6). This allowed the priests to go across the Kidron Valley and over the cemetery at the foot of the Mount of Olives without becoming defiled or unclean.

This offering symbolized a one-time sacrifice. Although, technically, it had to be repeated when the ashes eventually ran out. We can see this symbolism as only nine sacrifices of this type were ever made from the time of Moses until the first century (about a 1500-year time span). Jesus himself was the tenth. The number ten represents completion of a divine order. Christ died once for the sins of mankind: past, present, and future. The heifer was a one-time thing (until the ashes ran out, of course), and symbolized a one-time sacrifice that was for the entire congregation and allowed perpetual cleansing going forward–just as Christ forgave all our sins as a one-time sacrifice.

The blood of the heifer was sprinkled seven times toward the tabernacle (or temple when it was erected in Jerusalem). The entire tabernacle/temple was a representation of Christ and his work of atonement. The number seven is a number representing perfection. Christ was the perfect fulfillment of all the symbolism of the tabernacle and its furniture.

The animal was burned with cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool. In total, these items represent humility: the removal of pride (cedar), the need for cleansing (hyssop), and the removal of sin (scarlet wool). Christ was the only human devoid of sin. Only he was without sin and only he could save all of humanity.

Christ blood was the atonement for our sin and the drink offering for us. Priests became unclean when they performed the ceremony of sacrifice – the priests are representations of Christ who became unclean as he took on the sins of mankind. Christ was made clean (righteous and glorified) before he entered the city again.

We are continuously made clean by our confession of our sins and cleansed by the Holy Spirit. John tells us, “If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9).

The ashes of the heifer when mixed with water would make one clean from having touched death–Adam plunged all mankind into death separating all who came after from God. Christ brings us back from spiritual death into his light where we can dwell with Him forever.

This sacrifice therefore represents our need for continual cleansing.

As you can see, Jesus Christ fulfilled all eight of the required sacrifices and, in essence, fulfilled the whole of the Law of Moses. The Old Covenant wasn’t cancelled; it was fulfilled. Christ created a New Covenant with his blood because the Old Covenant did not need to be followed any longer because he completed it.

Where exactly was Jesus Crucified? Join me next time for that discussion.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, Lv 16:1-34), the high priest, after making atonement for himself and his family, would take two goats to make atonement for the people. Lots were cast over the goats; one goat would be for making atonement and one for confession of sins and release.

The goat for atonement would be sacrificed to atone for the sins of the people. The high priest would place his hands on the head of the other goat (called the scapegoat) and confess all the sins of the people over it. Another priest would then take the scapegoat into the wilderness and release it and ensure it did not return to camp (or later, to the city). For a long time, the animal was just released into the wilderness and they let nature dictate the method of the goat’s demise. However, later, the priest ensured the scapegoat met a fatal fate. Since this was a symbolism of sin being taken away, they wanted to ensure the animal did not return to civilization because that would indicate their sin had returned.

When Christ atoned for all the sins of all humans on the cross, our sin is forever removed and will never return to us. Scripture says this in Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” One can travel north and will eventually start to travel south once the North Pole is reached. Yet, when one travels east or west, one can travel in that direction forever without going in the opposite direction. This is what the psalmist is conveying here. The distance between east and west is infinite, and, therefore, so is the distance of our sins from God. God even says that he will remember our sin no more: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Hb 8:12).

This sacrifice therefore represented one’s sin being forever removed.

But what about our human nature? We still have it even after we accept Christ as our Savior and future hope. Was there a plan for accounting for our sinful human nature? Of course! Join me next time and we’ll discuss how clever God really was—and is!

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A required drink offering was required for several of the sacrifices that were made. This offering was made of strong wine (Nu 28:7). It was not to be diluted, which speaks of the purity and perfection of the offering, as well as of its preciousness (costlier than what was normally drank). All of it was poured out onto the sacrifice. Wine is a symbol of joy for both man and God (Jd 9:13; Ps 104:15). It was to be instituted only after they dwelt in the Promised Land (Nu 15:1) – because only then would they have vineyards to obtain the grapes to make wine. It was only offered with the “sweet savor” offerings (Nu 15:1-16): i.e., burnt offering, meal offering, and peace offering. It was not used with a sin offering or guilt offering because God has no joy in our sin.

The drink offering was instituted as a symbol of completion and pointed to a future completion. This was done by God who takes joy in doing this for us. Matthew said this about Jesus: “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:27).

Christ’s blood was a drink offering, meaning it was a completion of something which had been started earlier. His death was the completion of what the sacrifices in Leviticus pointed toward—i.e., the payment for mankind’s sin. Even in the New Testament it is a symbol of joy and completion and the initiation of new beginnings: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hb 12:2). The cross wasn’t the joy but what he endured to get to the joy, i.e., being with us forever. This offering therefore represents the joy of our restoration.

So, you see, God was intimately involved with us coming to him. After all, it was all his idea to restore us to himself. Us coming back to him gives him great joy. When we’re forgiven of our sin, what happens to that sin? Join me next time for that discussion.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The guilt offering was very similar to the sin offering: “The guilt offering is just like the sin offering; there is one law for them” (Lv 7:7). Although the offering was the same, the purpose was quite different. As the sin offering restored one’s standing with God, the guilt offering restored one’s standing with the one who was sinned against. Like the sin offering, it was for a specific sin (Lv 5:15-19).

If any of God’s commandments were broken, once a person realized it, he had to offer a guilt offering. It came with renumeration as well. To the offering he had to add 20% of its worth and give that to the priest. Then he had to make restitution to the one offended by repaying the value of whatever was involved with the sin committed and then add an additional 20% of its value and give that to the one sinned against. The purpose of the guilt offering was to absolve the offender of all legal and moral debt, and it restored one’s favor to one’s fellow man by absolving the guilt of the sin committed.

Whereas the sin offering had a vertical application, the guilt offering had a horizontal application. Paul stated that because we have forgiveness through Christ, we should do the following in our relationship to others: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice (Ep 4:31). And Jesus stated that if that was not the case then we have mending to do: “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:23-24).

While Christ’s death cancels our moral and legal debt, it does even more! Paul tells us this: “He [Christ] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Ro 4:25). We often state that Christ took care of our sin problem. Yet, we need to remember that he also took care of our guilt problem as well. This sacrifice therefore represents restoration of one being able to communicate with others without residual guilt.

So far, we have seen that our standing with God has been corrected, our relationship with him has been restored so we can communicate unhindered and even have a restored relationship with our neighbors. Does God have a significant part in all this other than Jesus’ death? Join me next time for the answer.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The sin offering (Lv 4:1-35) was offered for the sin as the name implies. Yet what is sin? God defined it this way: doing any of the things the LORD commanded not to be done (Lv 4:1).

Yet, Scripture tells us this type of offering was performed for a sin of ignorance. It could be offered for the entire congregation, or for the ruler, or for the common people. If offering for an individual, it had to be a male or female lamb or goat, and it had to be accompanied by a burnt offering. Again, this shows the reason we desire God to act, because we are devoted to him.

What does “a sin of ignorance” mean? This means this sacrifice was for an unknown sin, that is, committing something at the time and not realizing it was a sin. This sacrifice could not be made for a willful sin. There was no sacrifice for a willful sin.

Forgiveness of willful sin did occur, and we have examples of that in Scripture, but there was a requirement that the individual be truly repentant. For example, King David was forgiven for his sin with Bathsheba (2Sa 12:13). It would seem only a truly repentant heart was needed and likely, the offering on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) covered willful sin of those truly repentant.

This offering required the fat, liver, & kidneys of the animal to be sacrificed. Again, this is showing one is offering their very essence to God. The remainder of the animal was taken outside the camp (or city) and burned to ashes if it was for a priest or the congregation as a whole. If performed for an individual sin, the flesh of the animal was given to the priests for their consumption. There were several sins mentioned that would be forgiven (Lv 5:2-4): realizing one unknowingly touched something unclean, or someone thoughtlessly took an oath. They had to confess their specific sin (Lv 5:5). This meant this sacrifice could not be done “just in case.” One had to know the sin they committed, even though at the time it was committed, they were unaware of the severeness of their actions. Yet, as soon as they knew their actions were sinful or they violated the Mosaic Law in some way, they were to make this offering for this specific sin.

There was also something unusual about this type of offering that was not true for any of the other offerings. Whatever touched the flesh of the sacrifice became holy or dedicated to the service of God. Therefore, special precautions had to be made for this sacrifice to ensure it did not accidentally touch something it should not touch.

Ignorance is not bliss! And was not allowed to be used as an excuse for sin. We are still held accountable for our sin even if we don’t know we are sinning. Once we become aware, we are to seek forgiveness immediately—just like the Israelites were expected to do.

Sin results in defilement. God stated there were sins which Israel committed which were said to defile the people, the land, and even the dwelling place of God. These were such things as sexual immorality (Lv 18:24-30), bloodshed (Nu 35:29-34), occult practices (Lv 19:31; 20:6), infant sacrifice (Lv 20:1-5), divorce (Jr 3:1), and false worship (Jr 16:18).

The sin offering was necessary to restore one’s broken relationship with God. Just as touching the sin offering made whatever it touched holy, Christ as our sin offering declares us righteous, even though we did nothing to deserve it. Paul said it this way, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 5:1). This sacrifice therefore represented a restoration of being able to communicate with God.

The way Jesus healed was significant. Was he going against the Mosaic Law when he touched someone to heal them? No, because only he was the only one who could touch the unclean without becoming unclean. Jesus did not become unclean when he touched those unclean. Instead, those who were unclean became clean. Why? Because he was our sin offering. Anything that touched the sin offering became holy, or clean. Their uncleanness, i.e., their sickness, was immediately healed just from Jesus’ touch. See this post: Touch of Jesus. His miracles were just another way of demonstrating how he was fulfilling the Mosaic Law.

We see how the sin offering restored the vertical relationship we have with God, but what about the relationship with those around us. Sometimes our sin, even when done in ignorance, hurts those around us and causes conflict. Was their a sacrifice for that as well? Join me next time and find out.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The peace or fellowship offering (Lv 3:1-17) was a way for an Israelite to express thanks to God, give God a gift, or make a special promise to God. It was offered on the bronze altar, either a male or female herd animal plus bread made with and without yeast. The blood and fat of the animal could not be eaten. These represented one’s life and their very best to be devoted to God. The fat, liver, and kidneys of the animal were sacrificed. These represented one’s devotion to God. In ancient times, the liver represented the essence of one’s life, the kidneys represented one’s inner emotions and seat of one’s inner thoughts, and the fat represented the very best of one’s life. This represented one was giving their very essence to God. Isn’t that what one does when they get to know someone they care deeply about? To really know someone, you share deep thoughts and ideas that you would not share with just anyone.

The offering could only be offered at the tabernacle (or later, the temple) as this represented where God dwelt. The one making the offering was intimately involved with the slaughter of the sacrifice, and the meat of the offering was eaten at the tabernacle or temple in the presence of God to represent one’s fellowship with God.

Christ became our peace offering. As the meal was eaten in God’s presence to represent having fellowship with him, likewise because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we can have fellowship with him as well. The apostle Paul tells us, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in the flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ep 2:13-14). This is saying that both Jew and Gentile are one and have fellowship with each other and with Christ in the same way. This sacrifice therefore represents our Fellowship with God.

We have seen how the first three sacrifices reveal our now right standing with God, our devotion to him, and how we share out deepest thoughts with him. Is there more? Join me next time and find out.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The grain offering was the second offering mentioned in Leviticus (Lv 2:1-26). It was made and presented in one of three ways: (1) fine flour with olive oil and frankincense presented uncooked (Lv 2:1). This was symbolic of the Holy Spirit and prayer. It had to be fine flour because it represented the very best—the most work required to produce this quality of flour; (2) baked in the oven (Lv 2:4); or (3) baked on a griddle (Lv 2:5).

The one making the offering would take a handful (called the memorial portion) and the priest would burn it on the altar (Lv 2:2). The remainder (called the most holy part) was then given to the priests to use for their own consumption (Lv 2:3). Yeast and honey were prohibited (typically representing sin and pride) as this type of sacrifice was to be offered with humility. Salt was a requirement (substance that helped to give it flavor) to represent one’s usefulness when yielded to God.

Israel was dependent upon God for their food supply: they received manna for food when in the wilderness and rain for growth of crops when in Promised Land. Christ’s body represented the true bread from heaven. Christ said about himself: “Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51). His words demonstrate to us that Christ was the “memorial part” because he offered himself to die on the cross for us. He was also the “most holy part” because we partake of him symbolically as we follow him and his words. Paul said, “. . . Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ep 4:15). We mature into even thinking like Christ (1Co 2:16) and having his perspective of the world and those around us.

So, by identifying with Christ and becoming more like him, we mature in the faith and operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul put it this way in Colossians 2:14-15: “Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross, and having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” With our maturity comes power that the Holy Spirit gives us to overcome our spiritual enemy, Satan.

The grain offering therefore represents our growth in Christ, or our sanctification.

What other heart transformations are needed? Join me next time as we discuss this train of thought.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The burnt offering was the first sacrifice mentioned in Leviticus (Lv 1:1-17). It could be offered in two ways: (1) a personalized offering by an individual with only males allowed to make this offering—likely on behalf of their whole family (e.g., Jb 1:5); or (2) as an offering for the community performed on its behalf by the priest. One of the unique characteristics of this offering was that it was totally consumed on the altar. Only the hide could be kept by the priest (Lv 7:8). Often, burnt offerings were required in conjunction with other types of sacrifices.

This type of offering was likely the offering God had Adam and Eve offer because he used the skin of the animal to make their clothing. It was the offering mentioned in Scripture by Noah (Gen. 8:20) when exiting the ark. It was frequently offered by the patriarchs long before the Mosaic Law was established. The Lord instructed Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering (Gen. 22:2) and would have been the offering Moses performed in the desert after leaving Egypt (Ex. 5:3). Both Jethro (Ex. 18:12), Moses’ father-in-law, and Job (Job 1:5) offered this type of sacrifice long before the giving of the Law at Sinai.

It was continually offered as a perpetual sacrifice: night and day; on major feast days; and on new moons in Israel. This was a constant reminder that they were God’s people and were devoted to him.

So, what was the reason for this type of offering? It was made for man’s depravity (his sinful state). It was needed for one to be able to approach God. Christ became our burnt offering to restore our right standing with God by allowing us to be transferred from Satan’s Kingdom (which Adam yielded to him through his rebellion in the garden) into Christ’s Kingdom. Read my post, Are We Going Backwards? for more details on this topic. It was something Old Testament saints looked toward because they went to Sheol upon death. Because of Christ being our burnt offering, we go to be with him immediately (2Co 5:8) because our trust in Christ transfers us into his Kingdom. The apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 1:13, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves.”

The burnt offering was a principle of particularity. God, not man, dictates how we will and can approach Him. Jesus Christ said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6).

It was a principle of acceptance of God. Self-help books tell how a person should accept themselves so they can feel better about themselves and overcome their depressive state or their lack of confidence, while the burnt offering was all about making a person right with God and seeing things from his perspective. We are more likely to feel good about ourselves and feel relevant because we are working within God’s design for us. Romans 3 :10 tells us, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” We are incapable of approaching God on our own merit.

It was a principle of atonement and transfer of state through the shedding of blood. Hebrews 9:22 tells us, that without the shedding of blood there is no remission, or forgiveness, of sin. Blood represented life. One was giving life for life as one’s sins were symbolically transferred to the animal. Our sins (past, present, and future sins) were transferred onto Christ as he hung on the cross (1Pt 2:24).

It was a principle of identification. The one making the offering had to identify with the animal and symbolically transfer his sin to the animal which is then worthy of death. We, today, identify with Christ who bore our sin and died for our sin. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:6-7: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Christ identified with us in order to die for us in our place because our sins were transferred to him as he hung on the cross.

It was a principle of sacrifice. Neither the one making the offering, nor the priest benefited from this type of sacrifice. What was gained was a statement of devotion to God. We, too, are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to him. Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

The burnt offering is, therefore, a symbol of our transfer into God’s kingdom. And this was the reason it was required in conjunction with other sacrifices to show one’s rightful standing with God for God to act. This sacrifice made the other sacrifices possible.

So, once we are in his kingdom, what comes next? Join me next time and find out.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Many people make a commitment to read through their Bible cover to cover. They do great until they reach the book of Leviticus. Then their eyes roll, and they feel they have entered the Biblical wasteland. Words couldn’t be drier and the relatability to what is being read seems nonexistent. What is the purpose of such a book and how is it even relevant to us today? Believe it or not, it is highly relevant and reveals how blessed we are to be living post Christ’s crucifixion than before. Let’s take a closer look and see if I can make Leviticus become relevant for you. You may just never see this book the same way again. Wouldn’t that be nice!

The Mosaic Law was comprised of 613 commandments dealing with moral and ethical issues. Most of these were tied, whether directly or indirectly, to some type of sacrifice. There were eight different types of sacrifices or offerings that were required for different things. Sometimes, more than one sacrifice had to be made simultaneously. Likely you realized from your reading of Leviticus that sacrifices were a big part of this book and were crucial to the everyday life of a Jewish citizen. It all seems so confusing. It was likely more comprehensible for a Jew of that day as they grew up with these requirements. But why? What was the purpose of such sacrifices and so much detail as to how they were to be done?

Well, fast forward to the New Testament. Because of Christ’s teachings, many started to think he was advocating for the Jews to abandon the Mosaic Law. Yet, he told them that was not the case. Actually, far from abandoning the Law, he had come to fulfill the Law: Jesus stated, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Mt 5:17-18).

You may be thinking that if that was true, and he was such an advocate of the Mosaic Law, then why did Jesus argue with the Pharisees so much? The Pharisees were obsessed with keeping the Law, so shouldn’t that have been a common bond, a common thread, between them? Well, we need to look more closely as to what Jesus argued with them about. Their arguments were not about the Law but about Oral Traditions which the Pharisees elevated to be as binding as the Law itself. By doing so, they lost the true intent of the Torah, the Law. The Pharisees (and the Sadducees) had turned obeying the Mosaic Law into a list of dos and don’ts rather than about the condition of one’s heart. They taught that the doing was what made one righteous rather than an actual change of heart. Jesus was teaching the original intent of Torah, the Mosaic Law, was to expose the condition of one’s heart. Following the Law was to be a response of realizing one’s heart condition. The Pharisees were putting the cart before the horse, so to speak.

If we go back to Leviticus, we find there were eight different types of offerings required under the Mosaic Law. Why so many? What was their purpose? Did Jesus really fulfill all of them? How did he do that, and for what purpose was he to fulfill them?

To answer these questions, we need to look at each of these different types of sacrifices, their requirements, and what they represented. I think you’ll see that each addresses a matter of the heart. Each sacrifice was to be a response to a change in heart.

Let’s look at each of these sacrifices individually. I have covered them previously in another series of blog posts (Leviticus), but our emphasis in this discussion will be slightly different. I hope you join me as we discuss how Jesus Christ fulfilled each of these types of offerings and how each relates to our accepting him today.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens