First Advent of Christ
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The sacrificial offerings, and the priesthood of the Jewish sys-
tem, were instituted to represent the death and mediatorial work of
Christ. All those ceremonies had no meaning, and no virtue, only as
they related to Christ, who was himself the foundation of, and who
brought into existence, the entire system. The Lord has made known to
Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and the ancient worthies,
especially Moses, that the ceremonial system of sacrifices and the
priesthood, of themselves, were not sufficient to secure the salvation
of one soul.
The system of sacrificial offerings pointed to Christ. Through
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these, the ancient worthies saw Christ, and believed in him. These
were ordained of Heaven to keep before the people the fearful separa-
tion which sin had made between God and man, requiring a mediating
ministry. Through Christ, the communication which was cut off be-
cause of Adam’s transgression was opened between God and the ruined
sinner. But the infinite sacrifice that Christ voluntarily made for man
remains a mystery that angels cannot fully fathom.
The Jewish system was symbolical, and was to continue until the
perfect Offering should take the place of the figurative. The Mediator,
in his office and work, would greatly exceed in dignity and glory
the earthly, typical priesthood. The people of God, from Adam’s
day down to the time when the Jewish nation became a separate and
distinct people from the world, had been instructed in regard to the
Redeemer to come, which their sacrificial offerings represented. This
Saviour was to be a mediator, to stand between the Most High and his
people. Through this provision, a way was opened whereby the guilty
sinner might find access to God through the mediation of another. The
sinner could not come in his own person, with his guilt upon him,
and with no greater merit than he possessed in himself. Christ alone
could open the way, by making an offering equal to the demands of
the divine law. He was perfect, and undefiled by sin. He was without
spot or blemish. The extent of the terrible consequences of sin could
never have been known, had not the remedy provided been of infinite
value. The salvation of fallen man was procured at such an immense
cost that angels marveled, and could not fully comprehend the divine
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mystery that the Majesty of Heaven, equal with God, should die for
the rebellious race.