How do we know that animal sacrifices were a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice?

Animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were more than mere rituals; they served as types and shadows of the ultimate sacrifice to come, which is found in Jesus Christ. Leviticus 1 specifies that only the finest animals were to be offered, which emphasizes the need for purity and innocence in atonement. Hebrews 9:22 states that 'without the shedding of blood, there is no remission.' This foundational principle illustrates how the sacrifice of innocent animals was a temporary means to point forward to the final, perfect atonement made by Christ, who bore the sins of many and offered His own blood on the cross.