Genesis 8:20-21

Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.

The burnt offering turned away the wrath of God from his people. It was a sacrifice of atonement. Like the other sacrifices of the Older Testament, this prefigured the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

In fact, just like the Lord’s Supper, Noah’s sacrifice was united to, linked with the shed blood of the Son of God.

“When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma.” The blood sacrifice, offered in faith, was pleasing to God. “The Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man.”

God would deal with sin in a way other than direct punishment. Sin could be paid for by the life-blood of another.

Noah was trusting in the blood of the covenant, or better, the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it pleased the Lord, turned away his wrath, and secured the blessing of God.

That is what we do today at the Lord’s Supper. We trust the blood of Jesus to cover us, to cleanse us, to please God, and to secure his blessing.

The key is to trust in what God has promised to give. Without faith, and the knowledge of faith, this table will be be a blessing to you. If you do not understand, or if you do not believe, do not come to this table.

But for believers, just as the flood was a warning that sin would be punished, this table is a guarantee that the full judgement fell upon Jesus.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was a pleasing aroma to God and now from his heart God can said to believing sinners, my son, my daughter, come and welcome to my house, to my table.

You do not deserve to eat at this table, “the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth,” but Christ has provided you a place.

Your sins are forgiven, you are accepted, and greatly loved. Now, as a living sacrifice yourself, you can be a pleasing aroma to God.