118_The day of atonement

Lev 16:1-9 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died, 2 and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. 3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on. 5 And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. 9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, 10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

There is a story of a little boy who once broke his mother’s cherished vase while playing inside the house. In fear, he swept the shards under the carpet, hoping she wouldn’t notice. But the lump under the carpet was impossible to ignore. His mother eventually found out, and he stood trembling before her, expecting punishment. Instead, she knelt, embraced him, and said, “I forgive you, but we must clean this mess together.”

This simple moment holds a deep spiritual truth. Just like that boy, we often try to cover up our sins, hoping they will remain unseen. But sin, like broken shards, leaves a mark—one that only true atonement can erase. The Day of Atonement, as described in Leviticus 16, is God’s way of dealing with the “lump under the carpet” of Israel’s sin, pointing to a greater fulfillment in Christ.

Leviticus 16 marks a culmination of God’s instructions regarding sacrifices, priesthood, and what is holy versus unholy. It begins with a sobering reminder: the tragic death of Aaron’s two sons, who perished for offering unauthorized fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10). This warning underscores the necessity of obeying God’s commands with precision. The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, was not about individual or family offerings but was a collective act of national repentance and purification. It was the one day in the year when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of all Israel.

Aaron, the high priest, was instructed to lay his hands on a live goat and confess over it the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of the people—three distinct terms revealing different aspects of human rebellion against God. “Iniquity” signifies a crookedness of nature, “transgression” denotes a willful breaking of God’s law, and “sin” speaks of falling short of God’s standard. These were the burdens Israel bore, and they required divine atonement.

Atonement was necessary for two reasons: the impurity of individuals and the defilement of sacred spaces. Sin does not merely impact the sinner; it pollutes everything around them. The tabernacle itself, despite being the dwelling place of God, needed cleansing because it stood among an impure people. Aaron had to make atonement for himself first before he could intercede for the nation. His high priestly garments, usually adorned with gold and precious stones, were set aside for simple white linen—a humbling image of purity and self-abasement before entering God’s presence. This foreshadows Christ, who though worthy of heavenly splendor, took on the humble form of a servant to make atonement for humanity.

The high priest then carried out the sacrifices: a bull for his own sin offering and two goats for the people’s sin offering—one to be sacrificed and the other, the “scapegoat,” to be sent into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of Israel’s guilt. This act vividly portrays how Christ became both the sacrifice and the bearer of our sins, removing them “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). Unlike Aaron, who had to repeat this ritual yearly, Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all with His own blood, securing eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12).

Yet, the Day of Atonement was not merely about the high priest’s work—it required a response from the people. They were commanded to afflict themselves and cease from all labor, signifying repentance and humility. Without this, the sacrifices meant nothing. This principle remains true today: Christ’s atoning work is sufficient, but without repentance and faith, it does not cleanse us. True atonement is not just about being forgiven; it is about turning from sin and walking in newness of life.

For Israel, the ultimate fulfillment of atonement is yet to come. Though Christ died for their sins two thousand years ago, they have not yet fully embraced their Messiah. Zechariah 12:10 prophesies a day when they will look upon the One they have pierced and mourn in repentance. A fountain of cleansing will then be opened for them (Zechariah 13:1). Paul, in Romans 11:26-27, confirms that God’s plan for Israel’s redemption is not forgotten: “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.” The Day of Atonement points forward to this great day when all Israel will acknowledge their Messiah and be cleansed.

For those of us who have already placed our faith in Christ, this fountain of atonement is a present reality. We have been washed from our old sins, our consciences sprinkled clean, so that we may live in holiness. Like the boy with the broken vase, we do not need to hide our sins under the carpet of denial. Christ has made full provision for our cleansing, and His grace invites us to come boldly before the throne of mercy. Let us not merely rest in the knowledge of atonement but respond with a life of gratitude, walking in holiness as those who have been truly set free. God bless.