The offerings in Leviticus give us much food for meditation. We notice that the first offering mentioned is the burnt offering, which was all for God—except for the skin of the bullock, which was for the priest. God must have His portion in Christ’s work first.

Three types of offerings were allowed: first, a bullock; second, either a sheep or goat; third, either turtle-doves or young pigeons.

As with the bullock and sheep, the blood of the birds was to be pressed out at the side of the altar. It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul (Lev. 17:11). Only Christ’s blood is called precious blood, for it has eternal value (1 Pet. 1:19).

The birds present Christ to us as the One who came down from heaven (Jn. 6:38), and as the heavenly One who came forth from the Father (16:28), the eternal Son of God.

Why would He come down? He came to glorify His Father as the true burnt offering. The Gospel of John shows us the Lord and His sacrifice in this way. As the cross was approaching, He said, “Now is My soul troubled” but as always in His life, He adds, “Father, glorify Thy name” (12:27–28). That was His desire in coming to this world.

In addition, He also came for us! “I am come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (10:10). We were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). He came to give us new life, eternal life. But in order to do this, like the birds offered for sacrifice, He had to come down and deliver “Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor” (Eph. 5:2). Precious Savior!