He shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering. Leviticus 4:29 Here we have an emblem of the way in which a sacrifice becomes available for the offerer. The same ceremony is commanded in verses 4, 15, 24, and 33, and in other places: it is therefore important and instructive.

The question with many souls is how to obtain an interest in Christ so as to be saved by him. Never could a weightier question be asked.

It is certain that this is absolutely needful; but alas, it has been fearfully neglected by many. In vain did Christ die if he is not believed in. It ought to be attended to at once.

The text gives us a pictorial answer to the question, How can Christ's sacrifice become available for me?

Let us learn—

I. THE INTENT OF THE SYMBOL

1. It was a confession of sin: else no need of a sin offering.

· To this was added a confession of the desert of punishment, or why should the victim be slain?

· There was also an abandonment of all other methods of removing sin. The hands were empty, and laid alone upon the sin offering.

· Do this at the cross; for there alone is sin put away.

2. It was a consent to the plan of substitution.

· Some raise questions as to the justice and certainty of this method of salvation; but he who is to be saved does not so, for he sees that God himself is the best judge of its rightness, and if he is content we may assuredly be so.

· Substitution exceedingly honours the law, and vindicates justice.

· There is no other plan which meets the case, or even fairly looks at it. Man's sense of guilt is not met by other proposals.

· But this brings rest to the most tender conscience.

"What if we trace the globe around,
And search from Britian to Japan,
There shall be no religion found
So just to God, so safe to man"

3.It was an acceptance of the victim.

· Jesus is the most natural substitute, for he is the second Adam, The second head of the race; the true idea of man.

· He is the only person able to offer satisfaction, having a perfect humanity united with his Godhead.

· He alone is acceptable to God; he may well be acceptable to us.

4. It was a believing transference of sin.

· By laying on of hands sin was typically laid on the victim.

· It was laid there so as to be no longer on the offerer.

5. It was a dependence-leaning on the victim.

· Is there not a most sure stay in Jesus for the leaning heart?

· Consider the nature of the suffering and death by which the atonement was made, and you will rest in it.

· Consider the dignity and worth of the sacrifice by whom the death was endured. The glory of Christ's person enhances the value of his atonement (Heb. 10:5-10).

· Remember that none of the saints now in heaven have had any other atoning sacrifice. "Jesus only" has been the motto of all justified ones. "He offered one sacrifice for sins for ever" (Heb. 10:12).

· Those of us who are saved are resting there alone; why should; not you, and every anxious one?

SIMPLICITY OF THE SYMBOL.

1. There were no antecedent rites. The victim was there, and hands were laid on it: nothing more. We add neither preface nor appendix to Christ: he is Alpha and Omega.

2. The offerer came in all his sin. "Just as I am." It was to have his sin removed that the offerer brought the sacrifice: not because he had himself removed it.

3. There was nothing in his hand of merit, or price.

4. There was nothing on his hand. No gold ring to indicate wealth; no signet of power; no jewel of rank. The offerer came as a man, and not as learned, rich, or honorable.

5. He performed no cunning legerdemain with his hand. By leaning upon it he took the victim to be his representative; but he placed no reliance upon ceremonial performances.

6. Nothing was done to his hand. His ground of trust was the sacrifice, not his hands. He desired his hand to be clean, but upon that fact he did not rest for pardon.