But only
the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never
without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people
committed in ignorance. Hebrews 9:7 (NIV)
Today, Monday, September 25, 2023, is Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement, the holiest day within Judaism. It began yesterday, September 24, at sundown and will end at sundown today. This day was commanded by the LORD to be observed on the tenth day after the beginning of the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah, to allow Israel to atone for its sins (Lev.23:26-27).
In the tent
of the meeting in the wilderness and in the temples that stood in Jerusalem
were two rooms, the Holy Place where the priests ministered and the inner
sanctum (aka the Holy of Holies). In this second room was the ark of the
covenant which according to the writer of the Book of Hebrews held the rod of
Aaron, a container of manna, and the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments
(Heb. 9:4). The lid of the ark was crafted out of solid gold with cherubim, angelic
beings, hammered in gold, on each side with wings outstretched over its top (Ex.
25:10-22).
It was here where
the presence of God resided and where the high priest would yearly twice sprinkle
the blood of an innocent animal sacrifice upon the lid, once for his sins, and
once for the sins of the nation. The cover of the ark came to be known as the mercy
seat because that was where God’s merciful forgiveness for the year’s past
transgressions was granted to the nation. When done as God commanded it became
an acceptable atonement for the sins of the people.
The
atonement offered only a temporary relief of the sins of the people and was a
covering of their sin. There would always need to be an offering made
year-to-year. There was no sacrifice righteous enough that could be made once
and for all, for it is impossible for the blood of bulls or goats to take away
sins (Heb. 9:4).
Because Jesus
Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18) and not through an earthly
father He was the Son of God, born without sin. He was that perfect sacrifice
that just did not cover sin but fully forgave it. When Christ came into the world,
He said: “Sacrifice and offering you [God] did not desire but
a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings you were not pleased (Heb.
10:4-6). God made Him who had no sin
to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God (2nd
Cor. 5:21).
Yeshua was
rejected as Israel’s messiah for various reasons, probably the most cited being
He never established an everlasting reign on the throne of His ancestor David. Before
His ascension the establishment of Christ’s kingdom was even on the minds of His
own disciples and was their final question to Him. “Lord, are you at this time
going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).
Messiah’s
eternal kingdom will be restored as Scripture says and with Yeshua legally and
lawfully seated on the eternal throne in the lineage of David (2nd
Sam. 7:16, Matt. 1:6, Lk. 3:31). It will be a kingdom that will be glorious
and everlasting, however, at the time of Christ’s first advent the
establishment of a physical kingdom was not God’s priority. Destroying Satan’s
slavery of sin and restoring the human heart into full fellowship with Him was.
A happy and healthy kingdom can only come out of a whole and healthy people.
The second
temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by Rome over 1900 years ago. Since there is
no Holy of Holies or ark now where a high priest can make atonement, our Jewish
friends are encouraged to take this solemn and holy day to pray, reflect, and seek God.
As believers,
our own day of atonement happened when we confessed faith in the full power of
the sacrificial Lamb God offered in Christ Jesus. He humbled Himself and became
obedient to the will of God even to death on the cross to see it finished
(Philippians 2:8). Because of that He can rightfully say there is no other way
to God except through Him (Jn. 14:6).
God was
pleased to hear from the mouth of His perfect Lamb that His plan to break the slavery
of sin was successfully finished on the cross (Jn. 19:30). As our Great High Priest, He brought us to the
Seat of Mercy when we believed, sprinkling our
hearts with His own blood, making us holy and His own, once and for all time
(Heb. 10:10). All glory and honor to our Great High Priest and risen King on
this Day of Atonement. Shalom.
Maranatha,
Ken
