I remember the time when I was just a child, I’d be piggybacked around by my parents everywhere. In the house, the mall, everywhere. Whenever I was carried, I didn’t put any effort to stay in their clutches, nor did I resist. I had simply put all my weight on them.

This is a similar picture given to us in Leviticus 1, and ultimately the cross of Jesus Christ.

The first chapter of Leviticus fills instructions on the burnt offerings which were for atonement of sin and demonstrating devotion to the Lord.

(3) “If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord. (4) Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.” 

It was required that the sacrifice was a male without blemish (verse 3), indicating value and perfection. In which the perfect atonement was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who was a pure sacrifice without sin. Even more so, offering the best sacrifice out of one’s free will illustrates God’s desire of the heart and unforced worship. As was portrayed again by Christ, who had no need to be given away, but moved compassionately in His will.

Verse 4 writes a captivating detail in which the person who offers it must put his hand on the head of the sacrifice. This was a sign of identification with and the transference of sin to the sacrifice. Similarly, knowing that Christ had died for our sins will not do anything unless we identify ourselves with Christ and believe our sins were fully accounted for. More interestingly, the laying of the hand suggests an exertion of force upon the sacrifice, as if the person was leaning on it, putting his weight on it.

I cannot imagine a better picture of how much God desires our dependence on Him. To identify oneself with the sacrifice of Christ, and to fully lean on it with our hearts. Simply sustained by His cross, there is no need of effort nor restraint for salvation.

Again this was emphasized in the New Testament. He further invites us to put our weight on Him as He loves it when our souls find rest in Him. Jesus instructs us to come to Him from our labor and exchange yokes (Matthew 11: 28-30).

In the same way we lean on the Lord for salvation, we can do so with our lives. Our finances, careers, families, friendships, partner, you name it. If He has so kindly granted us salvation, will He not be faithful until its completion?

Lean on the Lord fully. In fact, piggyback on Jesus. He has carried you thus far. What is a lifetime more?