DAY OF ATONEMENT
Fifth of eight devotions in What God’s Festivals Teach series
Hebrews 13:11-12: “The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood.”
The opening Scripture shows Jesus being the focus of this Holy Day that’s observed September 30, 2017. The lesson linked below shows God’s original command in detail from Leviticus 16, with new information identifying both Atonement goats. Christ represents one goat—as well as other animals slain to pay for people’s sin.
The animals were killed and the priest splashed the blood inside the Most Holy Place. While the animal bodies were burned outside the camp, their blood purified inside. In the same way, Jesus sanctified [SANK-ti-fied] people with His own blood when He was flogged outside the gates of Jerusalem (Matthew 27:26). Sanctified means blessed, purified, made holy, or approved.
Jesus was crucified on Golgotha [GOL-go-tha], a hill outside Jerusalem (Matthew 27:33). Golgotha means “Place of the Skull”. A disciple of Jesus named Joseph asked Pilate for His body. Pilate ordered Jesus’ body be given to Joseph. Joseph wrapped a clean linen cloth around His body and placed it inside his own tomb that was cut from the rock. Then, Joseph rolled a large rock in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
This happened outside Jerusalem. Read Matthew 27:57-66 for details of Jesus’ burial. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses from Mark 15:47, saw the whole thing.
The live goat which was exiled to the desert outside Jerusalem represents the devil. John tells us in Revelation 201-2, “…I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.”
The Day of Atonement is about Jesus’ sacrifice for sin and the spiritual reuniting of sinful people with a Holy Father. Indeed, Jesus as our High Priest took His own blood and washed the Most Holy Place of heaven. His blood sanctifies us making our reunion with the Father possible now—and in the future.
Take Home Nugget
Christ represents many roles on the Day of Atonement Holy Day. He is sacrificed for the sins of ALL the people as goat #1. (Although some forgiveness will be applied after His return). He is the interceding High Priest. Jesus will also be the “King of Kings” after banishing Satan and establishing God’s Kingdom on earth.
Thank You for Your many roles securing our salvation, Lord Jesus!
Adapted from God’s Holy Day Plan, The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. ©1966, 1998, 2001, 2010, 2013 by the United Church of Christ. Ohio. Pgs. 56-57.
J.D. Griffith
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