Leviticus 16
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Leviticus 16:3-5, This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
Chapter 16 details what is called the day of atonement (the contemporary name for this Yom Yippur). This was the one day of the year in which the high priest would enter the most holy place, also called the holiest of holies, in which God's presence dwelt. He had to engage in some pretty elaborate purification rituals and sacrifice many animals in order to atone for the sins of the people. While we may see this task as an honor from our modern vantage point, the reality was that this was a pretty scary time for the high priest. He had to do everything just right. He was going to be in the presence of the Lord and if he didn't follow instructions properly, there was always the risk of being killed, which was what happened when something unholy came into contact with the holy. This was serious business.
I just can't read this chapter without thinking about Jesus. Why? Because when the high priest went into the holiest of holies, probably shaking in his boots, his rituals and sacrifices atoned for the sins of the people for one year. Then it had to be done again the next year and the next and the next. Besides that, there were sacrifices that had to be done on days in between to atone for other individual sins. Because humans are sinful and mess up a lot, these acts of atonement were a constant in the lives of the Israelite people. Jesus put an end to all of it. Jesus was the "once and for all" sacrifice that ensured all these other rituals and sacrifices could cease. The perfect sacrifice, the lamb of God, voluntarily sacrificed his life on a cross so that our sin could be atoned for forevermore! And now, we don't have to be scared to enter the presence of God. God welcomes us boldly to his throne of grace. We may still be a broken mess, but God doesn't see that. Rather, he sees the atoning work of Jesus. The blood of Jesus covers us and that makes all the difference!
Let's pray...Lord, your grace is amazing. While we were still lost in our sin, you sent Jesus to die in our place, to atone for our brokenness, and to ensure that we could have a relationship with you, Holy God. Thank you, Lord Jesus, thank you! Amen.