THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
He is also the bread that gives life, "coming down from heaven" (John 6:33) and from above. Additionally, He liberates us from our transgressions and rescues those on earth from the ignorance of sin, presenting Himself to God the Father as a fragrant offering. You will grasp this more fully when you reflect on Him being sacrificed, much like a bull offered as a burnt offering and a goat bearing the sins of the people. Indeed, "who can comprehend the transgressions of sin?" as it is stated (Psalm 18:13). Observe how clearly the giver of the law differentiates the purification achieved through Christ from the obligations of the Mosaic law.
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If you neglect the commands of Moses and if some are found careless regarding the law, then, I assure you, there is forgiveness (of sins) provided through the blood, particularly as the bull is slain and the goat sacrificed. This foreshadowed Christ. The law prescribes penalties for those who fail to comply, yet it is the Precious Blood of Christ that grants liberation from punishment and absolves the guilt of ignorance. He sacrificed Himself to eliminate the sin of the world. Thus, we can interpret Christ as life-giving and sustaining through bread; as the bull, He is recognized as the burnt offering, presenting Himself in sweet aroma to God the Father; and in the likeness of a goat, He is made our sin offering, dying for our wrongdoings. While He is spiritually represented by bread, He is also signified as a bullock intended for burnt offering and incense, and as a goat designated for the sins of ignorance. Furthermore, while He is spiritually depicted as a sheaf, He is likewise the perfect lamb (cf. Lev. 23:12), because Christ is fully perfect and without flaw in His essence. He is without blame; for He "knew no sin," and "neither was there any deceit in His mouth" (1 Pet. 2:22). He is also like fine flour, light and plentiful with oil, symbolizing life filled with richness and joy. We have our being in Him, delighting "in the hope of things prepared" (Col. 1:5); and as we are nourished by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we echo the words from the Psalms: "I have anointed my head with oil" (Ps. 22:5), for we have been forgiven through faith in Christ.