Day 3

What does Leviticus, a book of laws about animal sacrifice and all the things that made the Israelites unclean, have to do with the gospel?
Everything.
The law reveals sin, but it is also a “shadow of the good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). Leviticus 16:1-34 explains the requirements for the Day of Atonement.
“Atonement” means “to make amends for wrongdoing” or “compensation for sin.” I had a professor who said it like: “at one ment.” Atonement makes us at one with God.

On the Day of Atonement, once a year, the high priest had to wash himself and wear the holy garments to enter the presence of the Lord. He had to bring a bull as a sin offering for himself and his family. Then he presented two goats: one goat was an offering for the sins of the people, the other was the scapegoat. The priest would confess the sins of the people over the head of the scapegoat and then send it into the wilderness to be released – removing Israel’s sin from the presence of God.
The Israelites had to make these sacrifices every year as “a statute forever”  (Leviticus 16:31) because this was a temporary solution for their sin.

But in this picture of the Day of Atonement, we see Jesus:
…as the High Priest, making atonement for us.
…as the sacrifice of the bull, covering the sins of the priest.
…as the sacrifice of the goat, covering the sins of the people.
…as the scapegoat, carrying sin away from the presence of God.
And His sacrifice? It’s the final solution to our sin problem. 
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God…For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14)

By: Amanda Roper