The Grain Offering
The clearest picture of Christ in the offerings has to come from the grain offering.
Leviticus 2:1–2 (ESV) “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
The grain offering also most readily relates the idea that Jesus the true bread from heaven, would come in simplicity and poverty. Grain was the acceptable sin offering in Leviticus 5 for the poorest of the poor. Jesus was born in poverty. He lived a simple life. Yet in Him was the riches of God's glory.
The stipulations of the offering call for frankincense, a fine balsamic resin symbolic of holiness and devotion. God's Son would come with both. He would live completely for the purposes of God and maintain first and foremost His intimate obedience to the Father's voice. He was presented this spice upon His birth from the Magi in Matthew 2.
Notice the last stipulation that gets repeated throughout the chapter:
Leviticus 2:3 (ESV) But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the Lord’s food offerings.
The offering would be burned but a portion was preserved for the sustenance of the priests. This was their regular food and share of the blessings of God upon the nation. Literally, the priests ATE a portion of the bread baked from the grain. Now think about how Jesus commands us to eat His flesh and drink His blood. We in Christ are the "priesthood of believers" who partake of the food of God's final offering for sins - we are sustained by His sacrifice. We live because He was offered to God and died for our sins!
The one difference between a grain offering and a grain offering for sin (coming in Leviticus 5) is that in the sin offering no frankincense was applied. Why? Because when Jesus was nailed to the cross He took upon Himself our sin and shame. He became sin for us even though He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 8:9). On the cross for our sakes, He was not counted holy and devoted to God. He was accounted to our sinfulness and disloyalty to God. Therefore, the subtle change in procedure for the sin offering with grain would not have the Frankincense applied. What a picture of the glorious exchange in the Gospel!
Finally we are to remember that Jesus' body becomes our food and here is referred to as, "a most holy part of the Lord’s food offerings" when presented to the Priests in the Old Covenant. To be holy is to be consecrated to God. We come to communion and partake to remind ourselves that our sin was placed on Him, and His consecration was placed on us.
Notice this repeated address to the New Testament churches from Paul - an expert in Jewish sacrificial laws:
Romans 1:7 (NLT) I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be His own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
2 Corinthians 1:1 (NLT) I am writing to God’s church in Corinth and to all of His holy people throughout Greece.
Philippians 1:1 (ESV) Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints (holy) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
First things first Christian - you are called to holiness. You are called in Christ to the Lord's most special work. Having been made new and enjoyed the taste of God's goodness, walk in the newness of life provided by His sacrifice of a pure and holy life to God.
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