Touch Me Not

Touch Me Not

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, (John 20:11)

And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. (John 20:12)

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. (John 20:13)

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. (John 20:14)　

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. (John 20:15)

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:16)

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. (John 20:18)

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

   The tomb was empty. The garments of the earth were left behind. The messengers from heaven proclaimed with the voice of heaven, He is not here, he is risen. God the Father would not allow the men of the earth to proclaim the resurrection of His beloved Son. Heaven’s voice had to be heard first. When John the Baptist revealed the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God the heavens opened, and the heavenly voice was heard that said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

The New Man

   Now let us step through a greater door, and step into the light of the risen Man Jesus Christ.　Of twain he made one new man. The resurrected Man is the Man of heaven. He is no longer seen as the man who walked amongst Israel, but now He is the risen Man, the glorified Man who will reside in heaven at God’s right hand. He is also the great high Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.

   Those of the earth were saddened by the empty tomb. Those of heaven were jubilant with the glory that they beheld, the glory of God’s risen Christ. The world would say, We thought that he would deliver Israel. Their hopes folded at His death, and they, His disciples had not yet felt the power of His endless life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) The Jews were in turmoil, for they knew that they had crucified a just man. Desperately they were trying to create a cover story to explain the empty tomb. His disciples (those who He walked with, those who He talked with and shared the prophetic word concerning Himself, and gave them prophecy of things to come, and displayed His great power in all His miracles, and out of their own mouths they had declared that He was the Son of God) however, one by one they returned to a world with no hope. One of Peter’s reaction was to go fishing because nothing had changed.

    Mary stood alone at the tomb weeping. She had chosen the better part. She had anointed the Lord, the Lamb of God, for His death. Mary was the one who He would reveal Himself to. She thought that He was only the gardener, and a man of the earth, however, now Christ was the Man of heaven. No one had ever entered into heaven as a man with such divine pomp. He had defeated all His foes on the cross. He had overcome death in the tomb. He was a Man of heaven, and the divine Man Jesus Christ, and He was the divine Man of all faith. The surety of all faith came with His finished work on the cross. The announcement of the crown of that faith came from the voice of the angel, He is not here, he is risen.

   The Bible declares that the Lord Jesus is both the Author and Finisher of our faith. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) In the world of Adam it is the author that originates the thought, in the divine realm it is the Author of all things that originates all divine thought. He is the Author of faith that man may behold Him, His Person, His finished work on the cross, that man may behold a Savior. No man can walk by faith unless God is the Author of that faith. And not only does God put the spawn of faith within, but He also finishes that faith, and keeps that faith by His own divine power. Faith is the wonder of knowing God, and believing God, and walking with God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) And like our Savior all good things come from above. He was the perfect seed from above, the perfect Man from above, the perfect sacrifice from above, the perfect Priest from above, and very soon (we pray) the perfect King from above. His faith that He possesses is my faith. And my faith is His faith. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.(Galatians 2:20) Yes, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. My breath continues because He has given it to me. Me heart continues to beat because with His divine power He keeps it flowing blood through my being. My soul and spirit are in His hands. He has authored my faith, and He is the finisher of my faith. The dimness of my soul does not determine the loving grace Christ has for me. I am not saved on my merit, nor am I kept by my merit, I am saved by faith through grace, and for that He is truly the Author and Finisher of my faith. He will never leave me nor forsake me. The dimness of my soul does not control the measure of His love for me. I have been engulfed in that love because of His finished work on Calvary. Oh, that wonderful man of Calvary, who gave Himself for me. For truly His name should be called Wonderful. All the redeemed should be full of the wonder that is Jesus Christ our Lord. He, Himself, is wonderful. And the name that He bears is wonderful. And every knee shall bow to the wonder of His wonderful name. Oh, what a Savior.

   Mary was thinking of the earth and death. Where have you put him. I will take Him away. Even the voice from heaven (the witness of angels) could not fill the empty tomb of man’s heart. Reflect on the words that He declared to the Jews, Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up the third day. When speaking to His disciples the Lord proclaimed His life that He had the power to lay it down, and He had the power to take it again. Then He displayed that power to them with these words, Because I live, ye shall live also.

Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (John 14:19)

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 10:17)

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:18)

   Mary only saw a gardener because her heart and eyes were focused on the earth until the voice from above spoke her name. For never a man spake like this man. Only her name, Mary, from the lips of the man she knew, and now this voice opened her soul to the joys of His resurrection. She could feel His love, and tears would cease and joy filled her heart and soul. She might have briefly thought all that He told her was true that He is the power of resurrection, and He is the power of all life. Then she anticipated holding Him, touching Him, and He stopped her. Here is the reason: He had not yet ascended to His Father as the risen sacrifice to put His blood on the eternal mercy seat in the holy of holies, the most holy place in heaven. This was the true mercy seat not made with hands, but with the power of His endless life.

The High Priest Prepares Himself to Enter Into The Holy of Holies

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Hebrews 9:23)

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24)

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (Hebrews 9:25)

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:(Hebrews 9:27)

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)

   Let’s take our time here. Just one step, but a very important step. Let’s follow the steps of the high Priest of the most high God as He prepares Himself for the sacrifice of the cross. In John Chapter 17, as the high Priest He took the Lamb of God, Himself, to God the Father. This was the Lamb that would go to the cross, and as that Lamb He would give Himself for the sin of the whole world.

The Priest at the Gate

   John Chapter 17 was the gate of the tabernacle. This was where the lamb was brought before it was offered. It would be examined by the priest, and he would look it over thoroughly before he would give his approval. There could be no blemish, no spot, outwardly or inwardly. In John Chapter 17 we have the Lord Jesus as the Priest forever presenting to God the Father the Lamb that was to be slain. He was showing His life, and the work that He had done. All that was given of the Father He had completed. He had accomplished all that the Father had given Him to do. He had delighted in His Father’s will, and He had fulfilled that will with delight in His soul. His walk and His life was without spot. And now as He presents the Lamb (His soul is troubled) and He sweats (as it were) great drops of blood as they fall upon the earth, And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44) And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)

The Priest Presenting the Offering

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 5:6)

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7)

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:8)

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:9)

Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 5:10)

   We see the Priest, the divine Priest, in the garden offering Himself for the eternal salvation of precious souls. Notice also in Hebrews 5 in verse 6 we begin with the priest of the most high God, and in verse 10 we end with the Priest of the most high God after the order of Melchisedec. Between these two verses, we read in the days of his flesh. We read about the offering of Himself to God the Father. We see the transaction of presenting Himself without spot to God, and then in verse 9 He presents the One who is the Author of eternal salvation, and then in verse 10, He seals that salvation in the eternal priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ as a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26)

   Three times the Lord Jesus separated Himself from His disciples. Three times they were not brought into His suffering. Three times their own weariness had overcome their devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Three times they were asked to watch and pray, and three times they failed. Did not they know that the world was going to be completely changed in a matter of hours? Christ would be betrayed, and given to the Jews and to the Romans to be crucified, and yet, the heaviness of His soul now would be directed to His Father in heaven. His soul was so heavy, O if it was only possible for this cup to pass, showing the depth and the agony of what was to come.

The Offering Examined Before the Court

   The Priest, Himself, presented Himself at the gate (as the Lamb of God) to take away the sin of the world, nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done. When Christ, for the last time, went to His disciples, He stated to them, Sleep on, it is done. He knew about His betrayal. It was no secret to the mind of God. He knew who had betrayed Him, and He knew for how much. He listened to the voices of Judas, and the high priest, and He knew the heart of every man. It is done. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take [your] rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Matthew 26:45) The Lamb was prepared to be offered by God’s hand. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. (Matthew 26:56) God the Father had found no fault in the Man Christ Jesus.

   Christ was led to the court of man. Man’s court was one of malignancy, corruption and injustice. The court of Adam was Adam’s revenge against God his Creator. Christ sat before the Jewish nation, endured their spitting, endured their buffeting, endured all that they could do to the Man Christ Jesus, and they, themselves, could find no fault in this man. His accusers knew He was innocent. Their lying tongues and deceptive hearts perverted the truth because He was all truth, and they denied all truth. They were of their father the devil. And yet because they knew He was innocent of all their lies they also knew that His blood would be upon them.

   So once again, with their deceptive counsel they decided to put the guilt on Rome through their deceptive counsel, thus, they thought that they would be out from under the judgment of God, and they would be free from the condemnation of the nation of Israel. They conspired to let Rome kill Him because Rome was the supreme court of the world. There could be no appeal. Since Pilate represented Rome and all the power of Rome you can imagine that after Pilate had questioned the Lord Jesus, and proclaimed that he found no fault in Him the ears of the Jews would burn.

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. (John 19:1)

And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, (John 19:2)

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. (John 19:3)

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. (John 19:4)

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! (John 19:5)

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. (John 19:6)

   Twice in these six verses Pilate uttered the words of world approval, I find no fault in him. Little did the world know it was also approving God’s sacrifice for sin. At the same time, they (the Jews and the court of Rome) were condemning themselves, and standing guilty before a far greater court than the courts of the earth. Notice that Polite said, I find no fault IN him. The Spirit of God forcing Pilate to use the word ‘in,’ As there could not be a blemish without or WITHIN the holy Lamb of God. Pilate did not say, I find no fault about him, even though that was true, however, the Holy Spirit is very particular of the word ‘in,’ no fault IN him, no fault on Him, and no fault by him.

The Pure Offering Examined by Man, the World, and the Word

   The Offering had the witness of God the Father. He accepted the sacrifice at the hand of His beloved Son. We had the Jewish court corrupt as it was it could not bring itself to condemn the innocent. They would rather pass it off to Rome, and Rome could find no fault IN Him. There is one more testimony of the purity of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was written in the pages of God before the world was, and this is the testimony of the Holy Spirit concerning the Person of the Man Jesus Christ. According to the Word of God, written by the Spirit of God, the Living Word was without sin. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) If you would like to examine this verse with me and with the Spirit of God, this verse speaks of the temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ. But first, this verse introduces us to the great high Priest, and the temptation or temptations of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was tempted in all points in which all of mankind can be tempted, yet, through it all, He remained apart from sin because He was without sin.

The Offering Pure and Without Sin

   He did no sin. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1^st Peter 2:22) He did no sin. Every step that Christ took was without sin. Every thought that He had was without sin. The purity of heaven was IN Him for He was the holy seed of God that came from above. The angel declared to Mary that He, the seed of God, the Lord Jesus Christ was that holy thing within her, And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) Mary was the first to look into the eyes of eternity at His birth and see the eternal Savior, the Lamb of God, and at the tomb another Mary would look into the eyes of the Man of glory.

   The testimony of the Holy Spirit continues. He knew no sin. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The purity of the Lamb as He was offered upon the cross. God, the high Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ presented Himself a spotless sacrifice to God without blemish for He knew no sin. The Baptist presented the Lord Jesus to the world when he proclaimed, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. The Holy Spirit now shows us the Lord Jesus presenting Himself to God as THAT Lamb of God. He knew no sin, and yet, on the cross He was made sin for us.

   Only He alone could be the Lamb to vanquish sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Again, the Holy Spirit of God brings back the little word ‘in’ to our view of Jesus Christ for IN Him was no sin. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5) We have the purity of the One who holds eternal life. For God is righteous and in Him is no sin. He is the purity of all pureness. He is the finest of the refiner’s fire. And because of His pureness He manifested Himself as Jesus Christ to take away our sin. The Holy Spirit even goes further for He brings us to the resurrected Man as Jesus Christ: yesterday, today, and forever. In Him is no sin. Sin had no dominion over Him. Although He was made sin for us, He vanquished it in Himself. He dissolved sin itself by His divine righteousness. Sin was a catastrophic rip in the creation of God, a giant black hole in the very sole of creation. So the cause of that rip had to be taken out of the way and nailed to the cross, and our beloved Savior took on sin and defeated and vanquished it

   The cross in God’s real time was the altar of God in which the sacrifice (the Lamb of God) would be placed. And just as the priest in the Old Testament transferred the sin of the people to the lamb on the day of atonement, so the sin of the whole world was transferred by God on the Christ of God. Even on the cross He could not rest a moment. He was tried of God in the garden of Gethsemane, He was tried of man (both Jew and Gentile), and He had one more trial on the cross. He could not surrender to weakness, He must be strong and use all His mighty power to overcome sin. There was one more thing that He had to overcome it would be His last temptation. He referred to this before the cross in that the prince of the world cometh and would find nothing in Him. (John 14:30) There was not one fiber of Adam, not one fiber of sin, not one fiber of iniquity within the offering or within the Offerer; the devil would only find righteousness. The devil was very clever in this last temptation because he wagged the tongues of men.

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. (Luke 23:35)

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, (Matthew 27:39)

And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. (Matthew 27:40)

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, (Matthew 27:41)

He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. (Matthew 27:42)

He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 27:43)

The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. (Matthew 27:49) And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, (Mark 15:29)

Save thyself, and come down from the cross. (Mark 15:30)

Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. (Mark 15:31)

Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. (Mark 15:32)

And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. (Mark 15:36)

   This was the last temptation. The devil threw all that he could at the Lord of glory. Just as in Matthew Chapter 4 the devil told the Lord to cast Himself down. Satan used the tongues of men to cry out for Christ to come down from the cross. This was a higher plain then the pinnacle of the temple in Chapter 4 of Matthew; for Christ on the cross was suspended between heaven and earth. He was reconciling man not only unto Himself, but unto heaven. And the devil used man to call out, If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Yet, there was no response from the Lord Jesus concerning this temptation.

   In Matthew’s gospel in Chapter 4, there were three distinct temptations, and also at the cross we see three distinct temptations: 1) If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross, (Matthew 27:40); 2) He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. (Matthew 27:42), and 3) He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 27:43) This was the last dart thrown by Satan, prince of this evil world. Satan had come as the tempter to call the Son of God down from the cross to prevent the Lord Jesus from accomplishing the work of redemption. The Lord Jesus endured the cross, despised the shame, but completed the redemptive work of Calvary. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

   Without the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ we would have no Savior. Without the walk of the Lord Jesus Christ we would have no Savior. Without the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ we would have no Savior. Without the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ we would have no Savior. Without His ascension to the right hand of God we would have no Savior. Bless the Man of Calvary for we have a Savior who has sat down at the right hand of God, and He is there for us in all His glory as our glorious Savior, and we can all cry out those same words, It is finished. The fires of judgment had done their work on the soul of the divine Man. He did see His soul as an offering. He did see the travail of His soul, and as both the sacrifice and as the high Priest of God He entered into the sacrifice of Himself for sin.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11) 

   The book of Isaiah begins approximately 760 years B.C. (Before Christ) Isn’t it a wonder that God the Holy Spirit wants us to see the mind of God in offering His Son, and the very soul of His Son, and also to enforce God’s thoughts on His Son being obedient to the will of the Father that He would see the travail of His soul and be satisfied. No regrets. No misgivings, He saw the travail of His soul and for the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross, despising the shame and set down on the right hand of God. It pleased the Lord to bruise Him, He has put Him to grief, yet, it was our transgressions, it was our iniquities that nailed Him to the cross. We cannot escape what we were before Christ. We cannot escape the past of Adam, but we, as new born babes in Christ, have all eternity to look forward to. And so, the pleasure of the Lord will always prosper in the nail pierced hands of Calvary.

Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? (Job 4:17)

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 1:11)

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2)

But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. (Leviticus 1:9)

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1)

   We have (in the Scriptures) the purity of God, the purity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the purity of those whom Christ has taken unto Himself. All things must begin at the purity of God. Notice the purity of His Son that it is not a description, but an absolute. He was seen as pure because He was pure, and in that pureness (which is His Being) He is able to make us pure. Take these truths and let them settle into your heart, let them settle into you spirit, and let them settle into the very depth of your soul. So in that purity, the Lord Jesus told Mary, Touch me not.

The Offerings in the Old Connects to The True Perfect Offering in the New

   I suggest that you read the entire Chapter 9 of the book of Leviticus to get a better grasp of the offerings. Always keep in mind that these offerings were given by the Holy Spirit of God to teach, to reveal what was in the mind of God.

And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 16:7)

For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. (Leviticus 16:30)

And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: (Leviticus 16:32)

And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 16:34)

  We are still dealing with the purity of the offering which was the Son of God Jesus Christ. In the book of Leviticus God centered on the purity of the sacrifice, and this is the only sacrifice that He would receive: a pure sacrifice. Any blemish would disqualify the whole sacrifice. In Leviticus Chapter 9, verse 24, we have the fire of God coming out before the Lord and consuming the burnt offering before all the people. This was His approval of the sacrifice by His pure fire of judgment. However, in Leviticus Chapter 10, Nadab and Abihu decided that they would offer their own fire. God could not accept their fire, and sent His fire (the pure fire of God’s judgment) to consume both of these trespassers.

   This same fire went out from heaven upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As the sacrifice was pure so the fire of judgment had to be pure as well. There was no miracle that the Lord Jesus could do on earth to satisfy the judgment of heaven against Adam’s fallen race. It had to be the fire of God upon Himself to consume all that was of Adam. Adam had to go the way of man, and God had to establish the new Man in resurrection power in purity, in holiness, and in all righteousness. He was always the Son of God, however, in His manifestation He became the object of God’s delight through His death He would delight His Father. The Man Jesus Christ would now shed the body of earth and take on the body of heaven. This is the body that we are attached to. We are IN this body, and the Lord Jesus is IN us. The omnipresent God has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. And His dear Son has claimed us by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us. We are made the purity of God because of the purity of the sacrifice.

The Pure Offering and the Pure Offerer Goes Into the Holy of Holies

   Christ (the pure sacrifice and the pure Priest) now in resurrection glory was about to ascend into the heavenlies to present and place His blood on the eternal mercy seat. Touch me not were the words from the Priest of God. Although everything was completed in the work of redemption upon the altar, upon the cross of Calvary, the proof and the conclusion of that finished work had to be witnessed both on earth and in heaven. When the sacrifice was offered on the altar, the Priest must complete the work, so now, He must take the blood of the offering, the blood of the covenant, the blood of the New Testament to the holy of holies, the most holy place. He must place the blood of atonement on the mercy seat IN heaven to satisfy ALL the claims against His people.

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Hebrews 9:23)

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24)

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (Hebrews 9:25)

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:(Hebrews 9:27)

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)

   This section of Scripture is the affidavit of His offering. Notice how this section begins, It was therefore necessary. God here had no other way to justify man outside of His own righteousness. It was up to God Himself to take upon Himself the sin of the world. And the whole plan of redemption was based on the worthiness of the Son of God who is Jesus Christ. Therefore, before Christ left the earth to ascend into heaven He had to continue as the pure offering of God.

   In the tabernacle once the high priest placed the blood of atonement on the mercy seat He was then free to show himself to the people. When he came out of the tabernacle he was revealing to the people that God had accepted the blood on the mercy seat and their sins were removed on the day of atonement. God had qualified the priesthood of Aaron that it was of the earth, earthly. Even though Aaron was the appointed high priest appointed by God, he was still a descendant of Adam. He still had the makeup of Adam. He was still under the sin of Adam, therefore, every year on this particular date, he had to offer an offering for the sins of the people and THAT day was the day of atonement. Therefore, Christ (being the eternal high Priest from heaven) came out of heaven’s glory to offer Himself on God’s complete day of atonement. Everything that led up to the cross was fulfilled in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ whereby God could now say to His children, to the ones who are born of the Spirit of God, Thy sin and iniquity I will remember no more. What a blessing to know the purity of the sacrifice in Jesus Christ. What a blessing to know the purity of the eternal Priest. What a blessing to know the purity of the Man in heaven for us.

The Offerings in the Old Were Shadows of the Savior in the New

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. (Hebrews 8:5)

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2)

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:15)

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Ephesians 2:16)

And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; (Leviticus 10:10)

   The first seven chapters of Leviticus deals with the offerings. Each offering is a facet of Christ offering Himself on the cross. We concentrate on sin for this was the primary object of His death upon the cross. But within the realm of sin we have our trespasses, and He also had to annul all our trespasses. This was done because of the enmity of our being against God. He also satisfied God with the peace offering that we could find peace with God through the offering of Jesus Christ Himself. Leviticus begins with the burnt offering. This is Christ delighting His Father with the offering of Himself. The burnt offering is specifically described as a sweet savor unto the Lord, so Christ (in Ephesians) offered Himself as a sweet savor unto God. He was also the meal offering, or the meat offering, this offering was to testify of His spotless life that He was not only the manna of God, but He was the holy oil, the pure oil that gave light unto the world.

This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest’s office; (Leviticus 7:35)

Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations. (Leviticus 7:36)

This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; (Leviticus 7:37)

Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai. (Leviticus 7:38)

   All these offerings were met and fulfilled by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Your salvation is connected to every one of these offerings, for you are IN the Offerer, and He is IN you. When Paul stated that he was crucified unto the world he had entered into the death of the Lord Jesus Christ in all the facets of the offerings. Also notice the five offerings, the number of divine grace, and in Ephesians we also see the Lord Jesus as the divine sacrifice and a sweet savor unto God.

Touch Me Not for I am not yet ascended

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)

   Mary could not touch Him because the blood of atonement MUST go into the holy of holies in all its purity. The high Priest could not be touched, the perfect sacrifice could not be touched, the perfect Offering and the perfect Offerer could not be touched! Although Mary had previously anointed the priest for His burial she was not allowed to touch Him now. He must enter into heaven without a spot of the earth upon Him; not even a touch, not a speck of defilement could be allowed to affect His purity. He must remain pure when He places the blood upon the mercy seat.

   In Aaron’s priesthood (the shadow) he could not take any defilement into the tabernacle. He had to wash at the laver. The anointing of the Lord Jesus Christ was not only for His burial, but an anointing of the power of His endless life. For He is the true high Priest (the substance of the shadow) and He has the power of an endless life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)

Amen.

© Copyright 2018, Michael Haigh

Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)