The focus of this essay is perhaps the most monumental of subjects for humanity. The
desperate need for atonement was perpetrated on humanity by its own selfish choices. The writer
of Romans describes what this horrific decision brought: sin entered the world through one man,
and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.1 So, in order
for the Creator to be “compensated” for such a disaster, He required rituals and specific
sacrifices that would serve as a sort of covering of such wrong doing. In the following
paragraphs, I will share the initial, imperfect covering that is meant to be a foreshadowing of the
more perfect covering that came to pass through Jesus Christ.
We find the very specific rules and procedures set forth by the righteous God in Leviticus
16-17. These scriptures lay out each step in the process for making an atoning sacrifice for the
sins of the people. God delivers His instructions to Moses who in turn must educate Aaron, the
high priest on the proper steps. The following is a summary of such steps:
- The first thing that needed to be fully understand is that the high priest (Aaron in this
case) is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain
in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. 2
The high priest…
- Must bathe himself and put on specific, set apart clothing for the sacrifices.
- Is expected to make sacrificial offerings for His and his family’s sins first.
- Must take two goats and present them at the entrance of the tent and have a random
selection process determine which would be sacrificed and which would be set loose
as the scapegoat.
1 Romans 5:12 NIV
2 Leviticus 16:2 NIV
1
- Takes a small pan of altar coals and sprinkle incense on them before taking it into the
Most Holy Place.
- Puts the incense on the fire and the smoke will serve to protect the high priest from
death during his time in the Most Holy Place.
- Sprinkles the blood of his and his family’s (bull first) sacrifice seven times on the
mercy seat of the ark.
- Slaughters the goat whose blood will serve to make atonement for the sins of the
Israelites. He will take the blood for the sin offering for the people and take its blood
behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood.3
It is important to note that absolutely no one is to be in or around the place where the
high priest was performing these sacrifices. Only the high priest could serve and served alone on
this day.
- Come out to the altar that is not in the Most Holy Place and perform the same process
with the blood of the bull and the goat that was done on the mercy seat in the Most
Holy Place. This practice was performed to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the
uncleanness of the Israelites.4
- Brings the goat which was kept alive and placed the confession of all the wickedness
and rebellion of the Israelites5 on its head put them on its head. He then sends it into
desolation as a symbol that the sins of the people have been carried off into
remoteness.
- Goes into the tent of meeting and removes the ceremonial garments, bathes himself
and then puts clothes on that he would wear on any ordinary day.
3 Leviticus 16:15 NIV
4 Leviticus 16:18 NIV
5 Leviticus 16:21 NIV
2
- Comes back out and sacrifices the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for
the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people. He shall also burn the
fat of the sin offering on the altar.6
By following these procedures, the high priest would cause atonement to be made for all
the sins of the Israelites.7 In this way the chosen people would have a path forward toward God
and His holy and righteous plans for them.
The challenge with this system is that it fell short of what God ultimately required. It was
a temporary covering and needed to be consistently repeated in order to continue to be under the
protection of their Creator. In addition, it was only for those considered as God’s chosen people
– the nation of Israel. The temporary and incomplete nature of this process would eventually
usher in the more perfect, permanent, and complete sacrifice that God requires.
When Christ entered the scene, He came to deliver full and thorough atonement not only
to the nation of Israel but to all of humanity. When Christ came as high priest of the good things
that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not
made with human hands.8 His sacrifice was of His own perfect sinless blood sprinkled on the
Heavenly Mercy Seat of God. In so doing, He made the previous “procedures” no longer
necessary. No longer would a human have to do temporary actions to appease an angry and
disappointed God. They could now have their forever atonement made by the ultimate High
Priest – Jesus Christ – by seeking Him and acknowledging such sacrifice and His power to
deliver atonement. No more imperfect processes and tokens of remorse. No need for a human
priest to seek on our behalf. No more incense, no more animals, no more hidden places. Through
Christ we have received the High Priest who ended the need for imperfect sacrifices that led to
6 Leviticus 16:24-25 NIV
7 Leviticus 16:34 NIV
8 Hebrews 9:11 NIV
3
incomplete atonement. Now we have access to the full and permanent atonement which makes
any and all children of the Heavenly Father. For He [Christ] was sacrificed once to take away
the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to
those who are waiting for him.9 Max Anders ass that at a time after his death, he will come again
not to deal with sin but to bring salvation for his people. Jesus dealt completely with sin in his
death. At his return he will usher his people into the experience of eternal life.10
The Day of Atonement is perhaps the second most important day in the history of a
human. The most important day is the one in which an individual acknowledges the perfect
sacrifice and receives this perfect and complete atonement for the full remission of sin and
restoration of right relationship with the Creator.
Bibliography
The Holy Bible: New International Version Containing the Old Testament and the New
Testament. 2009. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. Leviticus 16
9 Hebrews 9:28 NIV
10 Lea, Thomas D, and Max Anders. 2005. Holman New Testament Commentary : [NIV Based]. Vol. 10
Hebrews & James. Nashville Tenn. Holman Reference.
4
The Holy Bible: New International Version Containing the Old Testament and the New
Testament. 2009. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. Leviticus 16 and Romans 9
Lea, Thomas D, and Max Anders. 2005. Holman New Testament Commentary : [NIV Based].
Vol. 10 Hebrews & James. Nashville Tenn. Holman Reference.
5
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
