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12/4 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 3-4; 1 John 3; Nahum 2; Luke 18
2 Chronicles 4:1
He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.
ALTAR
The bronze altar was made for the daily sacrifices of temple worship. Thousands upon thousands of sacrifices were offered daily upon the altar since the days of Solomon; and many countless millions were offered before that since the days of Moses. The New Testament tells us that…
it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:4
This is why the Israelites must offer sacrifice after sacrifice every day.
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:12
For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:14
We should take note that the bronze altar upon which the sacrifices were offered was twenty cubits wide. This was the same width as the House of the LORD (2 Chr 3:3-4). Prophetically speaking, this expressed the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Christ as the only way into the presence of God. Except by the sacrifice of Christ could a redeemed sinner pass through the pillars “in His strength” (Boaz) and by the truth that “He will establish” (Jachin). Except by Christ’s sacrifice could a sinner saved by grace find illumination by the ten lamps in worship (Jesus is the Light of the world), or feed from the bread of Presence (Jesus is the Bread of life), or offer prayers at the altar of incense (Jesus is the only Mediator). The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, by His incarnation, His crucifixion, His resurrection, His ascension, and the consummation of all things in His return, is the central hope of all. This is why Paul declared,
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Christ’s altar, it was wide enough
To show God’s grace for all;
His cross, though, is the only way
To save souls from sin’s fall.
