1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

a willing sacrifice, like that of the Head. To the other class, they areburdensome, great afflictions, almost without joy--an enforceddestruction of the flesh. And proportionately different are theirpositions and rewards at the end of the race."And Aaron shall come into the Tabernacle of the congregation["the Holy"] and shall put off the linen garments which he put onwhen he went into the Holy place ["Most Holy"] and he shall leavethem there; and he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place[the "Court"] and put on his [usual] garments [the garments of gloryand beauty] and come forth and offer his Burnt-offering and theBurnt-offering of the people, and make another illustration of theatonement for himself [the body--the church--the "little flock"] andfor the people. Vss. 23 and 24.The Burnt-offerings consisted of two rams (vs. 3 and 5.): onerepresenting the Bullock and the other the Lord's goat. These beingalike, show the harmony and oneness of the sacrifices made byJesus and his footstep-followers; that in God's sight they are all onesacrifice. "For both he that sanctifieth [Jesus] and they who aresanctified [the little flock] are all one; for which cause he is notashamed to call them brethren." Heb. 2:11.This is further shown in the treatment of each of these sacrifices.The rams of "burnt offering" were cut in pieces and washed and thepieces laid unto the head upon the altar and burned, making sweetperfume--a burnt offering of sweet savor unto Jehovah. Since bothrams were thus treated, it shows that in Jehovah's estimation, theyare all part of one sacrifice; the members joined to the head,acceptable as a whole, as the atonement for the sins of the World--thus satisfying the claims of justice and purchasing the whole worldof sinners.page 8As the Sin-offerings illustrate the necessary crucifixion and deathof the Redeemer, so the Burnt-offering illustrates God's manifestedacceptance of the same sacrifice. Let us not forget that God doesnot manifest his acceptance of the "better sacrifices" than bulls andgoats, until that Sin-offering is complete and the High Priest isrobed in the honor and glory of his office represented in the changeof garments. During the time of making the Sin-offering he woreonly the white linen garments; afterward and usually he wore theglorious garments illustrative of the honor and glory conferred onhim. During the Christian age the Sin-offerings progress and nohonor is bestowed upon the Priests, but at its close comes theoutward manifestation of God's approval and acceptance of it in theputting of glory and honor upon the Priests who made the sacrifice,and in the blessing of the people for whose sins he atoned.The Burnt-offering must be burned on the Altar in "the Court," thusteaching that God will manifest His acceptance of the sacrifice ofthe whole body (head and pieces or members) in the sight of all in"the Court" condition, viz: all believers. But before this