Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Talk Tuesday-The Jesus Series; The Cross, The Tabernacle and The Day of Atonement, Pt. I

The Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16, lay the groundwork for us to understand God's most astounding and profound act of love shown to humanity-Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. Once a year, on this day, the High Priest was allowed to enter into the Most Holy Place to make a sweeping atonement for the sins of the people.

“30 For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. 31 It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. 32 And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen clothes, the holy garments; 33 then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary,  and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.” Leviticus 16:30-34 (NKJV)

The High Priest faced death if he entered the Most Holy Place any other time. “2 Yahweh spoke to Moses and said: 'Tell Aaron your brother that he may not enter the sanctuary inside the curtain in front of the mercy-seat on the ark whenever he chooses, in case he incurs death, for I appear in a cloud on the mercy-seat,” Leviticus 16:2 (NJB). Behind the veil, in the Most Holy Place, stood the Ark of the Covenant. It was made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, covered by the Mercy Seat which had two cherubim on either side facing each other, their wings stretched out, their faces towards the Mercy seat (Exodus 25 & 37). Inside the Ark were the tablets of the Ten Commandments, the budded staff of Aaron and a jar of manna (Hebrews 9:4).

On that day five animals were sacrificially offered; a bull as a sin-offering to make atonement for Aaron (the High Priest) and his family, a goat as a sin-offering to make atonement for the people, a scapegoat (one which bore the sins of the people and carried them out of the camp), and two rams as burnt offerings for Aaron and the people. The blood of the bull and the goat (sin-offerings) made atonement for the people and cleansed the Tabernacle, the Most Holy Place, and the altar of the stain of sin.

The New Testament tells us that while on the Cross, Jesus cried out, “'Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'” Matthew 27:46 (NJB). “50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom,” Matthew 27:50-51 (NIV). Join us next week as we delve deeper into significance of Jesus being forsaken and the veil being torn in two. We will continue to look at The Cross, The Tabernacle and The Day of Atonement. We leave you with the following scripture to ponder:

“11 But 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, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining  eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” Hebrews 9:11-14 (NIV)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” Hebrews 9:14 I needed to be reminded of this! So often we beat up ourselves entertaining Satan(the accuser of the brethren) by believing that our many trials come because of our past sins.! Thank God for John 3:16! Thank God for Jesus Christ! Thank God for your post! You are indeed blessed to bless others!