Yom Kippur

Today at sundown began the Jewish high holiday, Yom Kippur. The day of atonement. In Leviticus this day is mandated by the God of Israel as a high holy day. 

 God says:

“Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.” Leviticus 16:34

 “...it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God.” Leviticus 23.26 

“...because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.” Leviticus 16.30-31

Once a year, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies, stand before God and sacrifice a goat as a sin offering for the people of Israel. 

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Several hundred years later, a prophet named Isaiah writes of a Messiah: 

“...because he poured out his life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sins of many and was made intercession for the transgressors...” Isaiah 53

This Messiah was going to die for our sins and be an intercessor for our sins. 

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Today, I praise my mighty God that 2000 years ago, he sent his son, Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest to lay down his life as the ultimate sacrifice for my sins.

“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when the priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins he sat down at the right hand of God...For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:11-14