Animal Offerings Won't Do

The dissatisfaction of God with animal sacrifices is well known, described both in the old and the new testaments.

In Hebrews 10, the dissatisfaction is described as due to the fact that animal offerings could never take away sin, or make the offerer perfect. Since God willed to save His loved ones, the Lord Jesus declared His willingness and delight to do God's will, to be clothed in human flesh, and to become the sin offering that purges guilt and forever perfects those who trust in Him.

In Psalms 40 and 69, the same willingness is described: Jesus acknowledges the dissatisfaction of God with animal sacrifices, and Jesus steps forward, willing to do God's will. In both psalms, Jesus acknowledges our sins being laid upon Him, and His owning them, and being treated as guilty for them in our place.

Several verses specifically describe circumstances at Calvary, making it clear the texts refer to the crucifixion of Jesus for sinners.

Christ describes the anguish He suffered, and the reproach that was heaped upon Him. Wicked people "persecute Him Whom Thou has smitten!"

This reminds us of Christ's teaching in John 12, that His death would bring both sorrow to Him, and yet glorify Him and His Father. Only by dying, like a kernel of grain, could Christ bring forth an abundance of life for those who trust in Him.

Jesus proclaimed that when He was lifted up, He would draw all men unto Himself. This principally described the lifting up on the cross, but the double meaning is that Jesus would be exalted as savior by dying.

Lifted up on the cross, and lifted up to glory as our redeemer! That was the sad, and yet joyous sacrificial work He finished!