THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
He is indeed the nourishing bread that has descended from heaven (John 6:33) and originates from above. Moreover, He liberates humanity from sin and alleviates those on earth from their ignorance, presenting Himself as a pleasing aroma to God the Father. This becomes evident when you visualize Him being sacrificed, akin to a bull presented as a burnt offering and a goat atoning for the ignorance of the people. As it is written, "Who can comprehend the sins of sin?" (Psalm 18:13). Observe how the lawgiver distinctly identifies the purification achieved through Christ, surpassing the necessities of the law.
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He states that should you err in upholding Moses' commandments, and should individuals neglect the mandates of the law, you will receive forgiveness through the blood, specifically when the bull is offered and the goat is sacrificed. This foreshadows Christ. Thus, while the law outlines the penalties for transgression, it is the precious blood of Christ that secures pardon and cleanses one from the burden of ignorance. He willingly surrendered His life to eradicate the sin of the world. Hence, through the bread, we recognize Christ as the sustainer of life; the calf symbolizes Him as a burnt offering, dedicating Himself as a pleasing fragrance to God the Father; and in the goat, He is depicted as a sin offering, slain for the transgressions we commit. While He is spiritually represented by bread, He is also symbolized as a bull, offered as a burnt sacrifice along with incense, and in the guise of a goat, which is offered for unknowing sins; conversely, although He is spiritually depicted by a sheaf, He is also a yearling lamb (cf. Lev. 23:12)—being flawless, for Christ is wholly perfect, without any deficiencies in His essence. He is entirely innocent, having known "no sin," nor was there deceit found in His words (1 Pet. 2:22). He embodies the finest flour, light and rich in oil, representing life filled with abundance and joy. In Him, we thrive, rejoicing “in the hope of things prepared” (Col. 1:5); nourished by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we echo the Psalms: “I have anointed my head with oil” (Ps. 22:5), for we have received forgiveness through faith in Christ.