Spurgeon: April PM
* 04/13/PM
"And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering;
and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him."
--Leviticus 1:4
Our Lord's being made "sin for us" is set forth here by the
very significant transfer of sin to the bullock, which was made
by the elders of the people. The laying of the hand was not a
mere touch of contact, for in some other places of Scripture the
original word has the meaning of leaning heavily, as in the
expression, "Thy wrath lieth hard upon me" ( Psalm 88:7). Surely
this is the very essence and nature of faith, which doth not
only bring us into contact with the great Substitute, but
teaches us to lean upon Him with all the burden of our guilt.
Jehovah made to meet upon the head of the Substitute all the
offences of His covenant people, but each one of the chosen is
brought personally to ratify this solemn covenant act, when by
grace he is enabled by faith to lay his hand upon the head of
the "Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world."
Believer, do you remember that rapturous day when you first
realized pardon through Jesus the sin-bearer? Can you not make
glad confession, and join with the writer in saying, "My soul
recalls her day of deliverance with delight. Laden with guilt
and full of fears, I saw my Saviour as my Substitute, and I laid
my hand upon Him; oh! how timidly at first, but courage grew and
confidence was confirmed until I leaned my soul entirely upon
Him; and now it is my unceasing joy to know that my sins are no
longer imputed to me, but laid on Him, and like the debts of the
wounded traveller, Jesus, like the good Samaritan, has said of
all my future sinfulness, 'Set that to My account.'" Blessed
discovery! Eternal solace of a grateful heart!
"My numerous sins transferr'd to Him,
Shall never more be found,
Lost in His blood's atoning stream,
Where every crime is drown'd!"