We Didn't Do It!

I was reading about the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. It is a special day in the Jewish year when the high priest goes into the Holy of Holies and makes atonement for the sins of the people.

Without going into great detail (there is tons of symbolism here) I wanted to point out just two small details.

One is this: "No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly or Israel." (17).

Then I noticed this verse as well: "and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you." (29-30)

As you may know, the Day of Atonement pictures the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. While the blood of bulls and rams "atoned" for the people's sins, it was only temporary and it was a picture of the one atonement for all time.

We've been studying John at church and how all Jesus' disciples scattered after his arrest. He faced the cross utterly alone, just as Aaron went in alone to the Holy Place. And more than that, all the people basically had to just sit and wait. They could not work, they had to pause and wait for the atonement.

Even with us, we cannot do anything to bring about the atonement (payment) for our evil. This atonement is "made for you" you didn't make it yourself. You can't do any work that can aid in Jesus paying the price for your sin.

Let us pause a little and remember THE High Priest, entering by himself into the Holy Place to offer His own blood as the one and only sacrifice.

Pastor Tom