- The Tabernacle of the Congregation -

The Burnt Offering Altar is the first notable item of interest upon entering the Tabernacle's Outer Court through the colorful Entrance Curtain. It was certainly an impressive looking object: made from acacia wood overlaid with solid brass plating; it stood approximately 5.25 feet in height, 8.75 feet in length, and 8.75 feet in width.

What exactly does the Burnt Offering Altar symbolize? Let's take a closer look starting with the basic element of wood. 'Wood' is often used in the Bible to symbolize 'man', especially in regards to his mortality (Jeremiah 5:14, Psalm 1:3). 'Acacia wood' in particular was considered by the Israelites to be among the finest, and strongest wood sources available in all the world. This is the primary reason why 'acacia wood' so often signifies the very best of humanity; an attribute that can only point to the life of Jesus Christ.   

'Brass', on the other hand, is often used in the Bible to symbolize 'God's judgment' against sin. Since the basic element of wood, representing mortal man, is overlaid with solid brass plating, representing God's judgment; then it would make perfect sense for the Burnt Offering Altar to have something to do with mankind (the 'wood') bearing the full weight of God's judgment (the 'brass') for sin. But what makes the above illustration even more meaningful is the 'acacia wood'. How so? Remember... the 'acacia wood' signifies the very best of humanity, as depicted in the life of Jesus Christ; thus, the Burnt Offering Altar provides us with the perfect illustration of Jesus Christ (the 'acacia wood') bearing the full weight of God's judgment (the 'brass') for the sins of mankind on the cross (an 'altar').            

What purpose did the Burnt Offering Altar serve? The priests would regularly use the Burnt Offering Altar to sacrifice a variety of 'sin offerings' to the Lord on behalf of the people of Israel. The 'sin offering' was to consist entirely of a male animal: a bullock, a ram, a turtle-dove, or a pigeon (Leviticus 1:3-17); it had to be perfect and without blemish; the healthiest and most prized of every man's stock. This Old Testament description of the 'sin offering' is intended to take us forward in time to the trial of Jesus Christ, the true 'sin offering' for mankind, who was closely examined by Pontius Pilate; a man who solemnly declared, "I find in Him (Jesus) no fault" (John 18:38).

The blood of the 'sin offering' would normally empty out around the base of the Burnt Offering Altar, foreshadowing the precious blood of Jesus Christ, emptying out around the base of the cross (an 'altar') when His side was pierced by the Roman spear (John 19:34).

After emptying the blood of the 'sin offering' around the base of the Burnt Offering Altar, the 'sin offering' itself was entirely consumed by fire, leaving behind only a pile of ashes. It was then part of the priests' responsibility to remove the ashes to a clean place outside the camp (Leviticus 6:6-13). This illustrative picture of the 'sin offering' is designed to take us forward in time to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. How so? Imagine if you will Jesus Christ taking the place of the 'sin offering' on the Burnt Offering Altar. As the ultimate 'sin offering' for mankind, Jesus Christ was placed upon a Roman cross (a type of 'altar'), to suffer the full weight of God's impending judgment for the sins of mankind. In essence... He who knew no sin took upon Himself the sins of the whole world so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). The 'sin offering' was destined to become man's substitute in the sense that it would stand judgment in our place, taking upon itself the penalty of death that we so deserve. And that is exactly what Jesus Christ did for those of us who believe upon Him. In fact... the Apostle Paul would even go so far as to figuratively compare the 'sin offering', also known as the 'burnt offering', to the Lord Jesus Christ. He would say, "And walk in love, even as Christ also loved us, and hath given Himself for us an 'offering' and a 'sacrifice' to God for a sweet-smelling savor" (Ephesians 5:2).

And what makes the above verse even more interesting is the phrase 'a sweet-smelling savor'. Why is that? The book of Leviticus repeatedly speaks of the 'sin offering', or 'burnt offering', in terms of a 'sweet-smelling savor' unto the Lord (Leviticus 1:9,13,17). The actual phrase in the Hebrew language is 'a savor of satisfaction'; a phrase which very accurately depicts what the death of Jesus Christ accomplished in the sight of God. How so? The death of Jesus Christ completely 'satisfied' the righteous demands of justice on our behalf. What demands? The Bible declares that "the wages of sin is death." All of us know what it's like to commit sin, and thus, according to the righteous demands of justice we are all confined to an eternal death sentence, forever separated from the presence of God.  Fortunately for us, the death of Jesus Christ, the true 'sin offering' for mankind, sufficiently paid the price for all sin; thereby, completely 'satisfying' the righteous demands of justice calling for our eternal destruction (Colossians 1:20). Thus, we can truly see from the scriptures how that the death of Jesus Christ, the true 'sin offering' for mankind, was truly 'a sweet-smelling savor' unto the Lord.

The part about the 'sin offering' being wholly consumed by fire upon the Burnt Offering Altar reminds us of the pain, suffering, and subsequent death of Jesus Christ on the cross, as He took upon Himself the full measure of God's wrath for the sins of the world. The Bible often uses the illustrative picture of fire as a visual depiction of God's wrath coming against sin for the sole purpose of destroying it (2 Peter 3:10); thus, it would make perfect sense for the fire of God's wrath to suddenly come upon Jesus Christ, the true 'sin offering' for mankind, to thoroughly 'consume' Him while suffering upon the cross (an 'altar'). Why is that? Please allow me to quote a few scriptures dealing with the idea of Jesus Christ becoming the true 'sin offering' for mankind, and taking upon Himself the sins of the world:

"For He (God) hath made him (Jesus Christ) to 'become sin' for us, who knew (or 'committed') no sin; in order that we might be made (or 'become') the righteousness of God in Him (in His Body)" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

"And you, who were at one time alienated (or 'estranged') and enemies [of God] in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He (Jesus Christ) reconciled [you to God] 'in the body of His flesh' through death" (Colossians 1:21-22).

"Who His own self (Jesus Christ) bare (or 'offered up') our sins 'in His body' on the tree (or 'cross'), so that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes (or 'bruises') ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

How does Jesus Christ become our personal 'sin offering' in the eyes of God? We must make a true genuine response to Jesus Christ in faith before any of the above promises become a reality in our lives; only then can we truly expect to receive peace with God, the forgiveness of sins, and everlasting life. For those opting to make the required response to Jesus Christ in faith, His death will remain active on their behalf, thus they are seen in the eyes of God as dying with Him on the cross (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:6), and the penalty for their sin is paid for (Colossians 2:14) resulting in continual peace with God (Romans 5:1-2). For those opting to refuse Jesus Christ, they are still under the penalty of death for their sins, and will face eternal destruction on Judgment Day (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

The part about the priests carrying the ashes of the 'sin offering' to a clean place outside the camp reminds us of the actual burial of Jesus Christ after His death on the cross (an 'altar'). How so? A man by the name of 'Joseph of Arimathaea', a high-ranking member of the Sanhedrin, was credited with removing the actual body of Jesus Christ from the cross, and placing it 'outside the city' in his own tomb; a previously unused tomb never touched by a human corpse. Being a high-ranking member of the Sanhedrin, it is highly probable that 'Joseph of Arimathaea' was a member of the priest class. So what we have here is a perfect illustration of a priest, Joseph of Arimathaea, removing the ashes (or 'remains') of the 'sin offering' (the body of Jesus Christ) to a clean place outside the camp (an unused tomb). Hopefully you are now able to see a little deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Burnt Offering Altar, the sin offering, and the rituals pertaining to these notable religious objects. They all seem to point to the person of Jesus Christ!

When we were at the Entrance Curtain leading into the Tabernacle's Outer Court we heard Jesus speak the following words, "I am the 'door': by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9). Are you beginning to notice how these solemn words relate to the hidden mysteries surrounding Tabernacle of the Congregation? Were you able to catch the personal invitation from Jesus Christ to enter into His Father's House? Do you want to experience God's free gift of 'eternal life' available only through Jesus Christ? Then please consider accepting Jesus' personal invitation to walk through the colorful Entrance Curtain leading into the Tabernacle's Outer Court. Not only is Jesus Christ the 'Door', or 'Entrance Curtain' leading into the Tabernacle's Outer Court, but He is also the 'Good Shepherd' who gives (or 'lays down') His life for the sheep (John 10:11). The 'Good Shepherd' is always available to help His sheep (or 'His people') enter the Tabernacle's Outer Court through the 'Door', and once through, we immediately come face-to-face with the Burnt Offering Altar, the very place where the 'Good Shepherd' gave (or 'laid down') His life for the sheep; a place known to us today as the Cross. The Burnt Offering Altar, otherwise known as the Cross, is the place where we come to confess our sins; asking the Lord to cover us, and cleanse us with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the true 'sin offering' for mankind. Only then are we sufficiently able to walk even deeper into the Tabernacle's Outer Court towards the awesome presence of God.