An unmitigated disaster.  Far from a shining moment for the capital of the New South, the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics proved disastrous.   Even battle tested Atlantans, were shocked by the gridlocked traffic.  The logistical disorganization and remoteness of some venues elicited universal criticism.  And the bombing at Centennial Olympic Park confirmed the opinions of many that the American south was still a hotbed of racism, violence, and extremism.  In the closing ceremony, the IOC chairman slighted the city and the games calling the Games only “most exceptional.” Breaking his precedent of describing every other  Olympics as “the best Olympics ever” at the closing ceremony.

But perhaps the greatest embarrassment was the mascot.  Intended to brand the Atlanta Games “Izzy,” short for “Whatizit,” was an amorphous blue blob wearing training shoes and variously draped in the five Olympic rings. Izzy was so poorly received when introduced at the end of the Barcelona games that it was redesigned and renamed by the children of Atlanta. Over time, a mouth appeared where there had first been only lips; stars appeared in his eyes; and his initially skinny legs became more muscled. Finally, a nose grew in the middle of his face. 

Despite the overhaul, Izzy never overcame the fact that it was unintelligible.  Or what it miscommunicated about Atlanta.  A mascot, logo, or icon must clearly express the core values of the person, place, or thing it represents.   If Izzy represented Atlanta, just what were her core values or virtues?  No one knew. And no one could know from Izzy.  Worse than failing to communicate values, Izzy communicated a vacuum.  Perhaps Atlanta had no core values or virtues.  Maybe this is what Izzy intended to convey. To say Izzy was a public relations failure would be a stunning understatement.

When something is ill-defined, it ultimately communicates whatever the receiver imputes.   Words or pictures without context or explanation will always take on a life of their own.   As communications guru, Marshall McLuhan quipped, “A word is worth a thousand pictures.” Or to quote the Proverb, “where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint.”  A brief trip to an art gallery quickly reveals that beauty, concept, value and virtue is, in the absence of explanation, in the eye and mind of the beholder. Only revealed truth keeps us from descending into paganism and superstition.  A point demonstrated by our divergent views about the reasons, ways, and effects of living sacrificially.

Sacrifices were known in every ancient culture.   The first sacrifice is only alluded to in Genesis 3 as God provides a covering for Adam and Eve from the skin of an animal.  And the first murder arose over sin regarding a sacrifice.   The patriarchs sacrificed.  And pagans sacrificed.  But their goal was to feed their gods, believing that the way to a god’s favor was through his stomach. Sacrifice was everywhere practiced yet nowhere clearly explained.   Yet its meaning is not to be subjectively determined by the feelings or intent of the offeror.  

The meaning of sacrifice is rooted in what C. S. Lewis called ‘the deep magic.’   The Bible tells us that Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  The deep magic of sacrifice stands outside of time.  Sacrifice means something.  It communicates something.  It affects something.  It points to something.  Something objective.  Something specific.  Something revealed not discovered. 

When the Galatians began to slip from grace to legalism, Paul reminded them that the law was not the way.  But rather the law pointed them to the One who was the way.  He wrote, “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)  The word ‘guardian’ is often translated ‘schoolmaster.’  The law teaches us about Christ and about sacrifice.

We would not understand John’s cry, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” without first understanding Leviticus with all its meticulum for the reasons, ways, and effects of sacrifice.   The first seven chapters of Leviticus are the priest’s handbook to sacrifices.  What to sacrifice, how to sacrifice, why to sacrifice.  And in these remarkably mundane pages we see the beauty of Christ.

Leviticus 1 details the first and most often used sacrifice, the whole burnt offering.  Sometimes called ‘the holocaust.’  And here our schoolmaster, the law, teaches us about the deep love of Christ for sinners.   As Andrew Bonar noted.

All is ashes.  So complete is the doom of the sinner – as testified on this altar, and fulfilled by Jesus when He took the sinner’s place.  That smoke attests that God’s righteousness is fully satisfied in the suffering victim.  His blood, “His soul,” is poured out! And the flame of the Divine wrath burns up the suffering one! 

Leviticus, Andrew Bonar

Join us as we examine Leviticus 1:3-17 and consider the reason, ways, and effects of whole burnt offerings and how they speak of Christ.  We meet each Lord’s Day on the square in Pottsville, right next to historic Potts’ Inn at 10:30 am for worship.  Get directions here or contact us for more info.  Or join us on Facebook Live @PottsvilleARP or YouTube.