Yom Kippur

Hebrews 9:6-15

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

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. 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. 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. 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!

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

God commanded his people Israel to build the tabernacle. It was a whole complex with places outside to offer sacrifices and perform ceremonial washings. In the middle was the sacred tent, divided into two rooms. The first was the Holy Place. Here the priests entered regularly. The second was the Most Holy Place. Here, the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s presence among his people, resided. Here, no one could enter except the High Priest, and that only once a year. If anyone entered, they would die.

Why would they die? They would die because sinners cannot enter the presence of God. He is holy, holy, holy (Isaiah 6:3). When sin and holiness comes in contact, sin cannot defile holiness. Holiness eradicates sin and the sinner with it.

One day a year, the priest could enter the Most Holy Place. He had to bathe himself and put on sacred clothing. He had to offer a bull as a sacrifice for his sin so that he could enter into the holiness of God.

He would also take two goats. One goat he would sacrifice. Then he would enter the Most Holy Place. As he entered he place incense on the fire burning before the LORD. The room would fill with smoke. He would hardly be able to even see the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s presence. He would then sprinkle the blood of the bull on top of the ark, the piece called the Atonement cover, for his sins. He would do the same with the blood of the goat for the people’s sins. Then, he would go outside and sprinkle the horns of the altar with blood to make atonement for it.

The last part of the Day of Atonement’s ceremonies was perhaps the most impactful. This part the people actually got to see. The High Priest would take the second goat and place his hands on it. He would confess all the sins of the people and put them on the goat’s head. Then, the goat would be led out of the camp into the wilderness carrying the people’s sins. They were gone.

But, “the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. (Hebrews 9:9). They were “only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order” (Hebrews 9:10). These ceremonies of the Day of Atonement were meant to teach the people about the Day of Atonement still to come.

“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. 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” (Hebrews 9:11,12).

The Day of Atonement has come! Christ has entered the Most Holy Place. He didn’t have to wear sacred clothing. He didn’t have to make animal sacrifices for his sin. He offered himself as a sacrifice, he offered his holy, sinless life on the cross to pay for the sins of the whole word. His blood sprinkles the Atonement cover. His blood makes satisfaction for all sin.

He has entered the Most Holy Place once for all. He has gone into heaven, into that Most Holy Place of God’s eternal presence. There’s no need for more sacrifices. His blood covers all sins of all people of all time. It covers all your sin of your entire life.

There was a curtain that separated the Holy Place in the tabernacle and, later, the temple from the Most Holy Place. The curtain separated sinful people from the holy God. When Jesus died, “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). The separation between God and people was removed in Jesus.

Now, we sinful people by faith in Jesus may also enter the presence of God without fear. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are made holy before him. We can come before him with our prayers, with our praise, with our offerings. We have the hope of entering God’s heavenly tabernacle to live with him face to face once and for all. Christ has made atonement for us.