The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

JESUS AND THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

Atonement is the process of restoring right standing with God once sin has occurred. In the Old Testament, an elaborate ceremony took place every year to atone for Israel’s sins. In accordance with God’s instructions, their guilt had to be covered over — their offenses had to be paid for through the shedding of blood.

Before entering the Most Holy Place, the high priest had to carefully wash himself and put on special garments. A bull was killed to cover the sins of the priest and his household. Then the priest cast lots over two goats — one to be sacrificed and one to become the scapegoat, carrying the people’s sins away from the community. Incense was burned over the ark so that smoke concealed the holiest place, protecting the priest. The blood of the sacrificed bull and goat were sprinkled on the atonement cover, the tent of meeting and the altar. Then the scapegoat was sent off with all of Israel’s sins on its head. Then the priest washed himself and changed his clothes before exiting the tent to burn portions of the offering on the altar. Finally, the remains of the animals were removed and the attendants who removed them — along with the man who led the scapegoat away — had to wash their clothes and bathe themselves. All of this happened every year so that people could be cleansed from all their sins (Lev 16:1 – 30).

The main feature of the ceremony, the shedding of blood, taught that atonement symbolizes the substitution of life for life. In that way, the Old Testament points forward to the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins. God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement (Ro 3:25 – 26). He gave his only Son as a payment for the sins of the world. Jesus had no guilt of his own, so he was worthy to be our substitute upon the altar of the cross.

God did this to demonstrate his righteousness. Sin was never waved off, disregarded or left unaccounted for. God upheld his righteousness and the worth of his name by requiring blood atonement for cleansing from sin. Justice shines in the way God kept his word to punish sin. Grace shines in the way God placed all of our sins on Christ. Salvation is a free gift to those with faith (Eph 2:8 – 9), but the gift itself was not free — atonement was purchased with the precious blood of Christ (1Pe 1:18 – 19).

Jesus, thank you for purchasing my atonement with your precious blood. I do not deserve your love. Amen.