1692. The Brazen Altar–Christ Our Sacrifice–the Place of Redemption

The Brazen Altar–Christ Our Sacrifice–the Place of Redemption

"How much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?" (Heb_9:14).

The story of the Brazen Altar is found in Exo_27:1-8.

As the Tabernacle was entered, the brazen altar stood immediately ahead. It was in direct line from the gate to the Ark of the Covenant.

God would teach us that we must approach Him by the way of the Cross.

1. The meaning of the word, "altar." The word "altar," means "high," or "lifted up." It suggests to us that Jesus Christ was lifted up on Calvary's Cross. He said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me" (Joh_12:32).

The brazen serpent was lifted up on a pole, and whosoever looked lived.

Jesus Christ became sin for us, He was lifted up on Calvary's Cross, and whosoever believeth shall not be confounded.

2. The significant meaning of the Altar materials.

The wood stood for the human body of our Lord Jesus Christ, He was made flesh and dwelt among us. He took a body in order that He might have Blood to shed upon Calvary's Cross. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb_2:14-15).

The brass stood for the judgments of God.

The wrath of God fell upon Christ. God made Him to be sin for us. God poured out His soul as an offering for sin. With His stripes we are healed.

The path to Calvary "was not a path of flowery beds; it was the pathway of suffering and of anguish.

The horns stood for the power of Calvary's Cross.

The Lord Jesus through His sacrifice is abundantly able to save the vilest sinner, and to save him unto the completion.

There is power in the Blood. The sinner needs to get hold of the horns of the altar.

3. The meaning of the shed blood. Upon the Altar, the sacrifice was placed, the blood was shed. This stood for the substitutionary work of Christ. We read in the Word of God, how the high priest offered the daily sacrifices which could never take away sin, but that the Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself:

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own Blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb_9:12).

The blood of the bulls and of the goats was. accepted of God because it anticipated and typified the Blood of Christ. "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?" (Heb_9:13-14).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR