The Christian Jewish RootsSýnishorn

Coming back to what I shared with you about Yom Kippur let me add some more revelation to what we learnt together about this awesome Jewish day. As Christian’s saved by grace through faith, it is necessary that we add knowledge to our faith. If we are to be people who can reach forth with the love of God to the Jew, it is necessary for us to know what they believe in.

First, according to Jewish tradition, we need to realize that two sacrifices were required by God for Israel’s atonement – or forgiveness. This was also part of Israel’s calendar new year, thus it was the time when God would erase all the sins of the past year.

The priest was in the temple where he was preparing.  He would put on fine white linen – the only time of the year he wore it. As he was preparing, his helpers came to the door of the temple bringing with them not one  sacrifice but two- according to Scripture, two goats. [see Lev.16: 7] He then cast lots to determine which goat would become the sacrifice.  This sacrificial animal was then led into the temple, while the other was left outside.  In the outer courts of the temple, the priests placed the sacrifice on the brazen altar as the high priest cut its throat. The blood of that goat was to cover the sins of Israel.  As this sacrifice took place, the priests white robe was saturated with the animal’s blood. In Jewish culture, when something was blood stained, it became impure and untouchable. 

Before the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of the sacrifice, he removed the soiled robe and hung it in plain view of all the people. Instead of washing only his hands or feet, the other priests completely washed the high priest from head to toe to make sure that there was not one spot of blood remaining on his body. Then, before he appeared before the people again, the high priest put on a new, white robe. His stain-free reappearance was a reminder that no matter what they did, they had come before the Lord, and His mercy was fresh every morning.

From there the high priest now washed and clothed in white – a symbol of purity-once again ascended to the altar of God. Because he was now “pure” and about to go into the Holy of Holies to make intercession no one was allowed to touch him lest he would become defiled. He would chant these words over and over again: “Do not touch me with anything of this world, for I have not yet been with the Father.” He entered the Holy of Holies – the only day of the year this was allowed by God – and sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant seven times. This was the atonement that released the blessing and forgiveness of God.