If you were a Jew living two thousand years ago, there was no getting around it: Yom Kippur was the holiest, most special day of the year. It was Easter for Christians, Labor Day for workaholics, Memorial Day for Veterans. Jews were required by Law to gather at Jerusalem, if physically possible, and wait in eager anticipation for the high priest to enter the Holy of Holies and present the blood of a bull before God Almighty. The Jews would hold their breath while the priest was in the most scared chamber and pray that their offering would be accpeted by God to atone for the annual sins of the nation. There were few guarantees. God would not accept an unacceptable sacrifice by an unacceptable priest.
Yom Kippur was sacred. It was the holiest day of the year. Today, October 9, is Yom Kippur.
The devout Jews of today will cease their labor and reflect all day upon their sin. There is no more animal sacrifice, so I'm not sure how they handle atonement, but they still revere today as the most sacred day. For 1500 years, sacrifices were made on Yom Kippur to atone of the year's sin. Israel was a nation in covenant with God. And Yom Kippur paid for the sins of the nation.
But there was a problem with Yom Kippur. Read Hebrews 10:3 and following, "But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. By the will [of God] we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD."
Thankfully, there was a sacrifice that was offered before God to take away not only the sins of the year, but also the sins of all eternity.
Will you join with me in saying a prayer for the Jewish people today? Will you join me in praying that they will accept the one true sacrifice that took away their sin, the atoning death of Jesus, their messiah? Will you join me in praying for their salvation?
Yom Kippur was sacred. It was the holiest day of the year. Today, October 9, is Yom Kippur.
The devout Jews of today will cease their labor and reflect all day upon their sin. There is no more animal sacrifice, so I'm not sure how they handle atonement, but they still revere today as the most sacred day. For 1500 years, sacrifices were made on Yom Kippur to atone of the year's sin. Israel was a nation in covenant with God. And Yom Kippur paid for the sins of the nation.
But there was a problem with Yom Kippur. Read Hebrews 10:3 and following, "But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. By the will [of God] we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD."
Thankfully, there was a sacrifice that was offered before God to take away not only the sins of the year, but also the sins of all eternity.
Will you join with me in saying a prayer for the Jewish people today? Will you join me in praying that they will accept the one true sacrifice that took away their sin, the atoning death of Jesus, their messiah? Will you join me in praying for their salvation?
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