In Leviticus chapter one, verse three, burnt sacrifice or offering means “that which ascends” to God. The entire offering burned up, signifying that complete consecration to God was essential for true worship. At the same time, the forgiveness of sin involves the emphasis on cleansing it before worshipers devote themselves to God. This activity was necessary for the people in the Old Testament. However, in the New Testament, according to scripture in Hebrews, chapter ten, verses five through ten, Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the burnt sacrifice.
In the Old Testament, Genesis thirty-one verse fifty-four is the first sacrifice mentioned with Jacob and his brethren when they went up the mountain to eat bread. They ate and stayed there all night. Usually, when people go up to the mount, they offer a burnt sacrifice because the smoke and the open air will evaporate through the open air. The people of God intend to find the highest point to offer this sacrifice so that it solely reaches God. To give a burnt sacrifice at a lower level will risk affecting trees and other things of nature, which would contaminate the offering itself.
Today, in the New Testament, believers do not need to go to a mountain to offer any sacrifices to God. The Son of God Jesus Christ did the ultimate fulfillment on the cross who became the living sacrifice for humanity. The only offering for believers to give is a portion of their earnings as a token of appreciation. To share with God the blessing He provides for His people. However, this includes giving some of our time daily to God and showing gratitude for blessing us with another day we can live and experience.
The burnt sacrifice is the past, and the living sacrifice is present: Jesus Christ.