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127_Yom Kippur

Lev 23:26-32 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 27 “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves[d] and present a food offering to the Lord. 28 And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. 29 For whoever is not afflicted[e] on that very day shall be cut off from his people. 30 And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 32 It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”

A man borrowed a large sum of money to cover an urgent need, hoping to repay it in a few months. But everything went wrong. His business collapsed, bills piled up, and he couldn’t maintain his payments. Eventually, he knew he couldn’t pay the debt, now or ever. He went to face his creditor, braced for the worst. To his shock, the creditor didn’t hesitate. He just looked straight into his eyes and said, “I’m writing off your debt. Put your mind at ease. You don’t owe me anything any more. Moreover, I’m crediting your account with a million dollars to get you on your feet again.” The debtor wept, not just from relief, but from the sheer weight of grace. He walked away more than free.

That is the message of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 23:26-32 tells us that this day falls on the tenth day of the seventh month—Tishri. It is a holy day unlike any other, a sacred moment in Israel’s calendar. The whole nation gathers, fasting and humbling themselves, to the temple where the sin offerings will be sacrificed for the sins of the whole nation, their leaders, and their priests. Even more, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place, the only time in the year when he could do so,

Leviticus 16:2 makes it clear that this was not to be treated lightly. No man was to enter the holy place except on this one day, by this one man, with this one mission. Unlike the trespass offerings and guilt offerings, which were mostly offered for individuals, Yom Kippur was a day when atonement was made for the nation’s sin and rebellion. The high priest, as their representative, confessed their sins, interceded, and offered the sacrifices on his behalf and on behalf of the nation. Through this feast, God was foreshadowing a picture of a greater Day, and a greater Priest, and a greater Sacrifice.

The garments worn by the high priest that day were not his usual elaborate robes with the gold, the stones, and the intricate embroidery. On the Day of Atonement, he wore four simple garments—plain white linen. Stripped of honor and glory, the high priest foreshadowed the One to come—Jesus Christ. The high priest would take the sacrificial blood in one hand, the other hand holding a censer in which two handfuls of incense were smoking briskly. Entering the holy place, he sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat to make atonement for himself. This would then be repeated to make atonement for the nation.

Though Christ was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:6-7). He came as a man on behalf of men. He dwelt among us in flesh, bearing our likeness, our burdens, our weaknesses—yet without sin.
And on the cross, He entered the true sanctuary in heaven, by his own blood and not the blood of bulls or goats. By his sacrifice, he made atonement once for all for the sins of the whole world.

The two goats powerfully bring out another aspect of Yom Kippur. One goat was sacrificed for the sins of the people. The priest laid his hands on the other, the scapegoat, confessing the sins of the people over it, and then it was led into the wilderness, never to return. Yet these two goats were one sacrifice for sin. Two goats were appointed simply because it was impossible that one goat could be killed and yet bear the sins of the congregation away. They show the Lamb of God who was not only sacrificed for our sins, but took them away. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12). He has not only forgiven us, but He will not remember them anymore (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). What a glorious salvation!

Romans 5:9 says, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” Jesus wiped out our record of sin, restoring us to righteousness by his death and resurrection.

God gave Israel a command: afflict yourselves. Do no work, lest you be cut off from the people. Indifference toward sin is a declaration of rebellion against God. Yom Kippur acknowledged sin and mercy through repentance and a sin sacrifice.

Matthew 11:28-29 bears the Lord’s invitation, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… you will find rest for your souls.” This rest is not the result of having done enough to blot out our sins. It is the outcome of humility and trust, learned from the Son of man who lived in it while he was on earth. This rest comes from the knowledge of the love of God, learned by looking to the One who gave up his life for our sins on the cross and carried our sin away.

When the Messiah came to fulfil the atonement, He was rejected by His own people. John 1:11 says, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” The temple, which should have welcomed its true High Priest, cast Him out. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, saying, “Your house is left to you desolate” (Luke 13:35). He declared, “You will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

This prophetic hope still waits to be fulfilled. The nation of Israel has not yet embraced her Messiah. But one day, as Zechariah 12:10 declares, “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child.” The fountain of cleansing that was opened at the cross will one day be opened for the people of Israel. Romans 11 assures us that “All Israel will be saved,” when the Deliverer comes from Zion.

Leviticus 25:8-10 describes the Year of Jubilee, the fiftieth year, the year of releasing all debts, freeing all slaves, and restoring everyone’s possessions. This blessed year was to begin with the trumpet sound on the Day of Atonement. It was a fresh start for everyone.

Can you imagine the joy of hearing that trumpet blast? Families reunited. Homes restored. Burdens lifted. That is the heartbeat of the gospel. In Revelation 11:15, we read that the seventh trumpet will sound, and voices in heaven will declare, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” Christ is coming to announce the year of jubilee.

Here and now, we do not have to wait for a trumpet to enter our freedom. The Lamb is slain, the blood sprinkled, the veil torn. Let us enter the holiest place with humility and godly fear. Where our works fell short, the Lamb of God provided a new and living way to know God.

What a wonderful way he is! Nobody needs to earn their place or hide their sin. Simply confessing them and trusting in him ensures that sin is carried away forever. He will give every repenting sinner the rest so earnestly desired. Then let us walk in that rest with joyful obedience, bearing his yoke and doing his will.

For those in Christ, let us remember the great Atonement made for us and keep ourselves clean, washing our robes in the blood of the Lamb. Let’s not take it for granted. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Be still. Humble yourself. Rest in His mercy. And live as one who is forgiven, free, and loved. God bless.