{"id":1197,"date":"2008-11-24T22:16:21","date_gmt":"2008-11-25T03:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/interactivelifeofjesus.com\/?p=1197"},"modified":"2008-11-24T22:16:21","modified_gmt":"2008-11-25T03:16:21","slug":"an-unblemished-male","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interactivelifeofjesus.com\/an-unblemished-male\/","title":{"rendered":"An Unblemished Male"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2026he is to bring an unblemished male.<\/em> \u2013 Leviticus 1:3b (HCSB)<\/p>\n

We know very little about Jesus\u2019 childhood. We can speculate, however, based on what we know about the world in which he grew up. The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah<\/em> by Alfred Edersheim is considered by many to be the most definitive and exhaustive single resource on the life of Jesus and gives healthy attention to the cultural context of the boy Jesus.<\/p>\n

Edersheim notes that it is likely Jesus began attending a typical school for Jewish boys around the age of 5 or 6. (Part one, page 230.) He further argues that the earliest lessons instructing Jesus in the school would likely have been from Leviticus. (Part one, page 233.) If that were the case, then we may be able to gain some insight into\u00a0one of the early and powerful influences on the worldview of the young Messiah.<\/p>\n

Leviticus is easy to skip because of its heavy emphasis on the sacrificial regulations of the Mosaic Law. We can gain a new appreciation for the book, however, when we consider how a young and developing messianic identity might have read these verses. For the sake of length we\u2019ll limit the scope of this article to the opening chapters of Leviticus. Nonetheless, these will be sufficient to provide some important insights into the future\u00a0\u201cLamb of God\u201d.<\/p>\n

Imagine a young Jesus approaching Leviticus for the first time. His parents have already instilled within him a love and respect for the Torah (Books of the Law). Any young male growing up in a devout Jewish home would already be well aware of the unique history of his people and the God who redeemed them from slavery and entered into a unique covenant relationship with them. Just as importantly, he would have tasted the powerful messianic expectation that pervaded the Jewish world at that time.<\/p>\n

Had he been told about the angelic announcements before his birth? Could he recall the visit of the Magi? Did Mary share with Jesus the many things which we\u2019re told she was \u201ctreasuring. . . in her heart\u201d? It\u2019s hard to imagine that she wouldn\u2019t. It\u2019s likely that well before Jesus began formal training at school, he was already pondering what it meant to be called \u201cJesus, because He will save His people from their sins.\u201d (Matthew 1:21b)<\/p>\n

Jesus. Yeshua. It means \u201csavior\u201d or \u201cdeliverer\u201d. The simple, daily calling of his name would be a constant reminder of his chosen status and his divine purpose. In this child we surely can imagine a budding understanding of his sacrificial destiny. Imagine this developing understanding hearing the opening words of Leviticus.<\/p>\n

Then the Lord summoned Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting: “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the Lord from the livestock, you may bring your offering from the herd or the flock. “If his gift is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to bring an unblemished male. . .\u201d<\/em> Leviticus 1:1-3a.<\/p>\n

The power of these verses would be hard to miss for the child Jesus. There is little introduction, little commentary, and little explanation. In the context of his family, his community, his nation and its\u00a0history,\u00a0certain truths\u00a0simply would be apparent, accepted, and now underscored by the simplicity and clarity of these words. Some of these truths would include. . .<\/p>\n