April 30, 2021

“One Act: Five Scenes”

This coming Sunday, my message will focus on a one-act play found in the 16^th chapter of Leviticus. This one-act play, which the Bible calls, The Day of Atonement, was made up of five separate scenes.

On this most holy day, the High Priest, all by himself, offered all the sacrifices to atone for the sins of the entire nation. In Hebrew, the Day of Atonement is known as Yom Kippur. Translated directly, the word “kippur” means, “covering.” You see, it was on this day that the sins of God’s people were covered by the shed blood of a substitutionary sacrifice.

The High Priest’s ministry, on this holy day, primarily focused on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant which was situated in the Holy of Holies.  On each end of the lid was a cherub angel, and between the angels was the “Atonement Seat” or “Mercy Seat.” The Mercy Seat was where the blood from the sacrifice was sprinkled in order to cover the sins of the people.

I hope you’ll take the time to familiarize yourself with Sunday’s text in Leviticus 16:1-22, because it foreshadows the wonder of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf.

Knowing mercy triumphs over judgment,

pastor Jamie