CEREMONY ON YOM KIPPUR

After we have seen the general introduction to the Day of Atonement, today we will see the details on the special ceremony that was done on that day (Leviticus 16)…

On the Day of Atonement, a special sacrifice was offered to atone for the sins of all the people of Israel. This sacrifice was done by the High Priest.

But before doing it for all the people, the High Priest had to offer an atonement for his own sins and for his house (Lev. 16:6). Then he had to sanctify the entire Temple and its utensils (Lev. 16:16-20).

ATONEMENT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE

When the High Priest and the Temple were purified, the sacrifice for the people of Israel could begin. By then, all of the people had been fasting, repenting and getting right with God, and they would just be waiting to see if God would forgive them this year.

For the sacrifice of atonement for all the people, two male goats were chosen, each one with a special purpose…

(Leviticus 16:7-8) Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. (8) And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.

a. A goat for Jehovah

(Lev. 16:9) And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering

After sacrificing the goat on the Altar of Burnt Offering, the High Priest took its blood to the Holy Place, and sprinkled it on the mercy seat (the gold cover of the Ark of the Covenant). But before that, he would fill the Holy of Holies with smoke from the incense, so that he wouldn’t die from being in the Presence of God (Lev. 16:12-13).

The mercy seat is the most special place in the Temple, because that was the place of encounter between God and his people (Ex. 25:22). It represents being “face to face” with God. This will have its final fulfillment when the Lord Jesus (Heb. Yeshua) comes for a second time. He will come to take away all iniquity and to prepare us for that day, since “without holiness, no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

Only the High Priest could enter the Tent of Meeting on that day (Lev. 16:17).  When it comes to the Holy of Holies, this was the only time of the year in which the High Priest could enter it (Lev. 16:2). On this occasion, the High Priest had a special outfit: he would take off his breast plate, the ephod and the crown, and would only wear his clothes of linen (Lev. 16:4).

b. A goat for Azazel

The destiny for the other male goat was much different…

(Lev. 16:10) but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

The name that this goat received is Azazel, which literally means: goat of departure, that is apart, disappears. This is the one that is known as “scapegoat”. 

This is what was done with this goat:

(Lev. 16:21-22) And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. (22) The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.

According to tradition, this goat had a scarlet ribbon tied to its neck, and they would also tie a scarlet ribbon to the door of the Temple. The man in charge of the scapegoat would take it to the desert, but he wouldn’t just leave it there, he would corner it on the edge of an abyss until it fell.

According to historical records, every year on Yom Kippur, a miracle happened: after the scapegoat died in the desert, the scarlet ribbon on the Temple would turn white. This served as a sign for the People to know that Jehovah had forgiven them. But there is an interesting detail in these records, after Jesus died on the cross, this miracle didn’t happen again, the ribbon remained scarlet.

A BETTER SACRIFICE

Although there is no Temple, the principles of the Day of Atonement are still in effect.  It is a perpetual statute to keep this day (Lev. 16:29-31), but we have to understand how it works in light of the Messiah.

The book of Hebrews explains to us that the sacrifices in the Temple don’t erase sin, but they serve as a shadow of what is coming (Col. 2:16-17).

(Heb. 10:1-4) For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. (2) Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? (3) But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. (4) For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

When we keep the Day of Atonement, we become aware of our faults. We realize that we are not righteous… but this is not for condemnation, but to become aware that we are made righteous by the grace of God. The book of Hebrews explains that the sacrifices don’t save us, but their function is to turn us to Him who does save us: the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World (John 1.29).

(Hebrews 10:10-14) And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (12) But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, (13) waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. (14) For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Jesus fulfilled the sacrifice for atonement on his first coming, on the day of Passover. That is how he opened the way to reconciliation. But on His Second Coming, the Lord will come to finish the work he has started. He doesn’t need to die again, because his death covers for all time; but when he comes, He will end iniquity (taking away the tendency of sin which was released with the disobedience in the Garden of Eden, 1 Cor. 15:45-54).

Meanwhile, when we celebrate the Day of Atonement year after year, we remember what Jesus did and what He will do.  We don’t just remember that he died and resurrected, but we also remember that he will return, and when he does, He will end with iniquity once and for all.

On Yom Kippur, we also become aware of what we have to do as a response to Yeshua’s Sacrifice: sanctification.

(Heb. 10:21-23) and since we have a great priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.