“Vasovagal syncope” is typed at the top of my friend’s chart. This tongue-twisting term warns medical personnel that she faints at the sight of blood. If she gets a blood draw or even a finger prick, her vision fades and she breaks into a cold, clammy sweat. You know where this is going. Loss of consciousness and collapse. How curious that the sight of blood causes such intense, visceral reactions.
Let’s follow this curiosity into the center of the book of Leviticus where we find God’s plan for the Day of Atonement. To understand this annual holy day, we remember that Israel had a big problem—sin. Ever since humans rejected attachment and relationship with God by disobeying Him (Genesis 3), there had to be separation between God and His people. As darkness is destroyed by light, so sinful people cannot survive in the presence of a perfect God. Sin had to be dealt with—atoned for—if God was going to dwell among His people in the tented temple.
Here’s the good news that weaves through the Bible: God had a plan to conquer sin. He knew it was impossible for the Israelites to overcome this deadly dilemma on their own. But God made the way. “Atonement will be made for you on this day to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD” (Leviticus 16:30). God established the annual Day of Atonement to heal His people’s sin sickness so they could abide with Him.
The Day of Atonement was full of grace, but it was also full of blood. God instructed the high priest to perform specific rituals: multiple animal deaths, blood drained, blood sprinkled, blood-smeared. The stark reality could not be missed: reckoning with sin required bloodshed and death.
I may not faint at the sight of blood, but I recoil at the thought of these bloody rituals. But we dare not gloss over the gruesome scene. We’re meant to experience a visceral reaction; we’re meant to feel the horrific truth about the effects of sin. There is nothing small or subtle about it. Conquering sin calls for an all-out assault. “For the life of a creature is in the blood…it is the lifeblood that makes atonement” (Leviticus 17:11). Do I realize what sin causes and costs? What a bloody mess.
You know where this is going. The bloody sacrifices performed every year on the Day of Atonement culminate in Jesus offering Himself and pouring out His own lifeblood to cleanse us from our sins. His sacrifice did not need to be an annual endeavor. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice who rose to life despite suffering a bloody death, was the only One who could destroy sin and say, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Jesus’s gruesome crucifixion transformed into His glorious resurrection and leads us to grateful praise as we declare, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
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38 thoughts on "The Day of Atonement"
“It is finished.” How grateful I am for this proclamation, this absolute fact. No more desperate, and failing, efforts to earn God’s forgiveness. No more lingering bloody stench from the sacrifices required. Instead I walk free in righteousness and breathe in the sweet fragrance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All because of “It is finished.”
I’m so grateful for the atoning blood of Jesus. For I am but a lowly sinner not worthy of His mercy and grace. But my Lord has unconditional love for me. My savior gave His life for me. The blood of Jesus washes me clean and I am forgiven. So astounding no words can describe the value of His sacrifice. How can I not want to follow Him? I’m so convicted of my sin this morning. How can I continue in my sin knowing all that has been done on my behalf?
Jennifer I join you in lifting your mom in prayer, covered by the perfect restoring blood of Jesus! In His healing name, Amen
JENNIFER LOVES JESUS – praying!
And SHARON JERSEY GIRL – praying for your family
Those who don’t believe the truth of God and of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection would likely view this book as nonsense.
I believe! And for me, the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God are becoming more real each day. Not that I didn’t already know how God views sin, but I am thinking more about the awareness needed to recognize sin and avoid it as much as humanly possible. So many little ways it can sneak in. I cringe at how accepting and embracing the world is of sin.
Praying for JENNY SOMERS, MAE, ASH H AND VICTORIA E.
SUSAN LINCKS – praying for your surgery, I think that’s today.
DIANE MOM – praying for you and your husband
LINDA – thank you for the praise report on your rent situation!
I come in humility and bow before the Lamb of God in prayer this morning for my mom. Lifting her to Jesus our Healer as she goes into surgery for ovarian cancer. She’s been so strong during her chemo and I’m praying for a successful surgery and full recovery. Praying for the peace of Jesus over her. May he calm her anxiety and fill her with His supernatural power to bring joy and hope to her and all of people we encounter at the hospital. In Christ. Amen.
From HRT:
“But what about those sins that they didn’t even notice? How could they be rescued from the wickedness that escaped their conscious minds? Enter the annual Day of Atonement. On this day, the high priest would enter the holiest place, where the ark of the covenant rested, and he would make a sacrifice for all the sins of Israel. In this way, God’s people could be set at ease with the confidence that every ounce of sin had been covered. This was the promise: “Atonement will be made for you on this day to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD” (Leviticus 16:30).
There were many sacrifices in Israel throughout the year, but this one had the greatest reach and sanctifying effect. Through this one sacrifice, the sins of the many were forgiven, which is why the apostle Paul would take up this very same image to explain the death of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25–26). In Christ’s death, every one of your sins is covered over—past, present, and future.
Whenever you wonder whether God could forgive you for something you’ve done, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” And the reason for such confidence is that Jesus has once for all atoned for your sins by His sacrifice. There is nothing beyond His saving reach. There is peace of mind in Jesus. He is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Whatever fears you have that something in your past might keep you from the loving embrace of God the Father, you may put those fears to rest. The sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf is perfect and complete. You are forgiven.”
Also wanted to point out that Aaron did not wear his normal clothing while making these offerings, but was dressed in just the linen like the other priests. This is a shadow of the things to come…our Perfect HigHigh Priest took on flesh and looked like us to make the final atonement for sin-stained humanity. Thank You, Jesus!
I was reminded of this scripture in Hebrews:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:19-25
It is our hearts that are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus not our heads, as it is in our heart that we must be changed, not just in our minds. Then our whole body is cleansed by that pure and life giving water. And then, having that cleansing from our sin we should encourage one another in the faith for our lives are just a speck in eternity.