THE GOSPEL IN LEVITICUS?!

Danny Drefke let me stay in his ranch house near Medina, Tx., a few weeks ago.  Arriving on Sunday afternoon, I began my four days there with God in the book  of Leviticus, telling God that I had never seen much of value for me in any of my previous readings.  Now, several weeks later, I have gotten only so far as chapter ten in this reading.

Amazingly, there is much about the presence and purposes of the Lord Jesus to be found verse after verse in this very neglected book.

The flyleaf of Philip Yancey's book, The Bible Jesus Read, says that the church here today has the notion that "the Old Testament isn't worth taking the time to read and understand."  His book sets out to correct that impression.  Amazingly, the amazing Lord Jesus showed up in my heart as I began this very neglected book of the neglected Old Testament at the DD Ranch last month.

A "Tidbit" from chapter 9.

Vv. 5, 7, 10, 23 say that Aaron did "as the Lord commanded."

Vv. 4, 6, 23, 24 say "the glory of the Lord appeared," and v. 24 says all the people saw the glory of the Lord.

Amazingly, this chapter of this unknown book of the neglected Old Testament is a direct illustration of what happens when people seeking to know the grace and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3.18; 2 Corinthians 3.18) begin to take Jesus' commands seriously.

Compare the promises and commands of the Lord Jesus in one of the most well-known places of the New Testament, John 14-17 with Leviticus 9.

John 14.15-27--Obey My commands, and I will reveal Myself and My love to you.

John 15.26-16.16--God the Holy Spirit will do all this and more for all who whole-heartedly seek to obey the commands of the Lord Jesus.

Amazingly, Leviticus shows us how to take the sacrifices of Jesus and the sacrifices He now asks of us as seriouslyas did Aaron and the people.  When we are as serious as Moses and Aaron, the prophets and psalms about obeying the commands of the Lord, we will find  the forgiveness, reconciliation, and fellowship Leviticus proclaims, just as Jesus promises and the Epistles explain.

Leviticus is a foundational illustration of the Grace and Glory of the Lord Jesus for us today.

"This is an illustration for the present time." 

Hebrews 9.9. 

(Hebrews 9.1-10.18 help us see what we gain as we "meditate day and night on the Law of the Lord.")