The problem of sin in the Old Testament, pre-Christian era was dealt with by the use of substitutes. The Old Testament substitutes were animals such as sheep, goats and bulls. These animals, which were pure and unblemished, were sacrificed, and their blood offered on the altar by priests. And the entire Jewish sacrificial system was a type of the one to come when Jesus Christ went to the cross on our behalf. In the 16th chapter of the Book of Leviticus the holiday of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, was established. It was a day set aside for the people to afflict their soul to atone for the sins of the past year. It was a day for repentance and making amends. Of all the Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur is probably considered by most Jews to be the most important since many Jews who do not observe any other holiday will keep this holiday by refraining from work, fasting and attending synagogue services.
The Israelites were taught that the sacrifice of an animal atoned for their sins. They believed in the power of sacrifices and offerings. They believed that the blood of animals helped to counter their sins and restore them to God. The most important offerings for sin were made on the annual Day of Atonement. The high priest, on this day, and only on this day, entered the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle or Temple with a blood sacrifice. The blood sacrifice the high priest brought before God was to make atonement for the sins of Israel. Salvation and atonement were rooted in the Old Covenant. But numerous Old Testament references show that the sacrifices in and of themselves were unable to atone for sin (Psalm 51:16-17: Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8). Only the pure sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son and the shedding of His holy blood could accomplish what the blood of bulls and goats was unable to do (Hebrews 10:4). And when Jesus entered the Most Holy Place when He offered Himself on the cross of Calvary, the veil of the curtain was ripped in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). No longer do we have to have a sinful man as a priest act as our mediator between God and us, we have God Himself as our Mediator, Jesus Christ, who walked this Earth as a Man, and yet He lived His life completely free of sin. He understands us, “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15 [RSV]).
It was customary for the Jews to wear white on the Day of Atonement, for white symbolizes purity and calls to mind the promise that our sins shall be made as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). In Jesus Christ we are clothed in His white, pure garments, and we become clothed in His holy garb when we submit to have our sins washed away in baptism. In Jesus Christ we are reconciled to God, and no longer His enemy (Romans 5:10). As the Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 3:27 [New Revised Standard with Apocrypha], “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Are you ready for your Day of Atonement with Jesus as your sacrificial Lamb? All things are ready.
The Israelites were taught that the sacrifice of an animal atoned for their sins. They believed in the power of sacrifices and offerings. They believed that the blood of animals helped to counter their sins and restore them to God. The most important offerings for sin were made on the annual Day of Atonement. The high priest, on this day, and only on this day, entered the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle or Temple with a blood sacrifice. The blood sacrifice the high priest brought before God was to make atonement for the sins of Israel. Salvation and atonement were rooted in the Old Covenant. But numerous Old Testament references show that the sacrifices in and of themselves were unable to atone for sin (Psalm 51:16-17: Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8). Only the pure sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son and the shedding of His holy blood could accomplish what the blood of bulls and goats was unable to do (Hebrews 10:4). And when Jesus entered the Most Holy Place when He offered Himself on the cross of Calvary, the veil of the curtain was ripped in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). No longer do we have to have a sinful man as a priest act as our mediator between God and us, we have God Himself as our Mediator, Jesus Christ, who walked this Earth as a Man, and yet He lived His life completely free of sin. He understands us, “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15 [RSV]).
It was customary for the Jews to wear white on the Day of Atonement, for white symbolizes purity and calls to mind the promise that our sins shall be made as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). In Jesus Christ we are clothed in His white, pure garments, and we become clothed in His holy garb when we submit to have our sins washed away in baptism. In Jesus Christ we are reconciled to God, and no longer His enemy (Romans 5:10). As the Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 3:27 [New Revised Standard with Apocrypha], “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Are you ready for your Day of Atonement with Jesus as your sacrificial Lamb? All things are ready.
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