THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
He is also the bread of life, descending from heaven (John 6:33) and originating from above. Furthermore, He offers salvation from sin and liberates those on earth from the bondage of ignorance, presenting Himself as an acceptable sacrifice to God the Father. You will grasp this more deeply when you envision Him as a sacrifice—slain like a bull for a burnt offering and akin to a goat for the sins of the people. For, as it is written, “who can comprehend the transgressions of sin?" (Psalm 18:13). Notice how the lawgiver emphasizes the purification accomplished through Christ, surpassing the mere actions of the law.
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He states that if you violate the commandments of Moses or are negligent regarding the law, then you will find forgiveness through the blood of an offering—specifically when the bullock is slaughtered and the goat is sacrificed, which foreshadows Christ. The law prescribes penalties for violations, yet it is the precious blood of Christ that redeems us from these penalties and absolves us from the weight of ignorance. He gave His life for us to abolish the sin of the world. Thus, we may perceive Christ as life-sustaining bread; He is represented by the calf, which signifies His role as a burnt offering, making a pleasing aroma to God the Father; and in the form of a goat, He is envisioned as our sin offering, put to death for our transgressions. As He is spiritually illustrated through bread, He is also represented by the bullock, offered as a burnt sacrifice, and by the goat, which is meant for the sins of ignorance. On the other hand, while He is spiritually depicted by a sheaf, He is also signified as a perfect yearling lamb (cf. Lev. 23:12); for Christ is entirely complete and without flaws by His very nature. He was sinless, as He knew "no sin," nor was there "any deceit in His mouth" (1 Pet. 2:22). He embodies fine wheat flour—light and rich in oil, representing life in abundance and joy. We find our existence in Him, rejoicing "in the hope of things prepared" (Col. 1:5); and filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, we affirm the words of the Psalms: "I have anointed my head with oil" (Ps. 22:5), for we have received forgiveness through faith in Christ.