The True Idea of Sacrifice by William W. Prescott

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 28, 1912

The True Idea of Sacrifice

By William W. Prescott

When John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God,” he furnished the key for the correct interpretation of the ritual service which had for so many centuries preached the gospel of the coming Redeemer. Every lamb that was offered in sacrifice, either in patriarchal times or later in the services of the sanctuary or of the temple, was designed to direct the mind of the offerer to the one true sacrifice. In that wonderful fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, in which the sufferings of Christ are so touchingly portrayed, we read:—

“He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” Isa. 53:7.

This was the very passage of Scripture which the eunuch was reading when Philip joined him, and in reply to the question, “Of whom speaketh the prophet this?” “Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.”

That the blood of the lamb of the ancient sacrifice was a type of the blood of Christ, “who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God,” is clearly implied in the following scripture:—

“Knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ: who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake.” 1 Peter 1:18-20.

In harmony with this interpretation we find that in his vision of heavenly beings John—

“saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, . . . and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Rev. 5:6-8.

So also we read of “the twelve apostles of the Lamb;” that “the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple” in the holy city Jerusalem; that the river of water of life proceeds “out of the throne of God and of the Lamb;” and that “the throne of God and of the Lamb” shall be in the New Jerusalem.

But while understanding clearly that the sacrifices of the ritual service were thus a type of Christ, who “gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God,” it is of the greatest importance for us to understand the practical lesson which we are to draw from the whole scheme of sacrifices, and which we are to apply in our own experience. This lesson is clearly suggested in the following interpretation:—

“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body didst thou prepare for me; in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure: then said I, Lo, I am come (in the roll of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law), then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Heb. 10:5-10.

There was nothing accomplished for the sinner by the mere sacrifice of an animal. Unless it was the expression of a personal experience, it was mere formalism, as is plainly taught by the words of God through the psalmist:—

“Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving.” “Whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth me.” Ps. 50:13, 14, 23.

The psalmist David knew that the mere taking of the life of animals did not make a man right with God. He says:—

“Thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: thou hast no pleasure in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Ps. 51:16, 17.

This brings us nearer to the proper meaning of all typical sacrifices as revealed in the life of Christ, in contrast with those sacrifices and offerings which in themselves availed nothing. He gave himself up to a life of obedience to God, which culminated in his death on the cross. Of this we read:—

“Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.”

Jesus himself testified that he came to this earth wholly devoted to the doing of the will of God:—

“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work.” John 4:34.

“I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 5:30.

“I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38.

This complete yielding of his life to do the will of God is found in the prayer of our Lord in the garden the night before his crucifixion:—

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matt. 26:39.

“My Father, if this can not pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.” Verse 42.

This sacrifice of himself to do the will of God was made for our sake. This experience was wrought out in the flesh for the benefit of those who through the weakness of the flesh are unable of themselves to yield perfect obedience to the will of God. When the Son of man made an offering of himself in complete consecration to the doing of the will of God, he consecrated potentially the whole church constituting his body upon earth. This is the meaning of the statement:—

“By which will we have been sanctified [consecrated] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Heb. 10:10.

He in whose heart Christ dwells by

faith is enabled to avail himself of that potential consecration which was effected by Jesus in behalf of the church by his own consecration to the will of God, and in this way is answered the inspired prayer:—

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12:1, 2.

Inasmuch as the perfect will of God is revealed in his perfect law, that sacrifice which is acceptable to him is found in complete obedience to the law of God, rendered through that personal faith in Christ which makes such obedience possible. This means the writing of the law in the heart through the mediation of our great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. Thus the experience which is involved in the true idea of sacrifice is the very experience that belongs to the people of God under the closing message,—the preparation for the coming of the kingdom. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth”

W. W. P.