The High Priest’s Role and the Weight of the Day

Yom Kippur is the most holy day on the Jewish calendar. It was a solemn day, and the stakes were high for the people and the High Priest. This was the one and only day the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies. His job was to offer sacrifice on behalf of himself and all the people. If the Lord did not accept the sacrifices, the priest would die in His Presence.

He performed many ceremonial washings and rituals . Blood was sprinkled on the atonement cover, the curtains, the horns of the altar of incense and the altar of sacrifice.

Two goats were chosen, one for the Lord and the other as the scapegoat. The goat for the Lord was slaughtered, and his blood applied on behalf of the people. Then he would lay his hands on the head of the scapegoat and transfer all of Israel’s sins to the goat. This was national repentance, not individual. The scapegoat was led into the wilderness to die a slow death without food or water.

The Priest would go back into the Holy of Holies and wait for a verdict from the Lord. If the Lord accepted the sacrifice the Priest would go out and bless the congregation with the words of Numbers 6:24-26, the Aaronic Blessing. At this time there was great relief and rejoicing. The people were assured that their slate was wiped clean and their names would remain in the book of life for another year.

This ritual was conducted yearly as a prophetic act so that when the people saw Jesus take upon Himself the sins of mankind, they would recognize that he was the scapegoat that carried away their sin. Sadly, they did not recognize Him as the Messiah.

The destruction of the Temple in 70 AD was God’s judgment on their unbelief. God’s message was clear, their old system of worship and sacrifices was over, and it was time to embrace Jesus as the sole source of salvation and the focus of their worship.

Prophetic Fulfillment in Yeshua

Jesus is the High Priest that satisfied all of the requirements for atonement for all people’s sins. Once and fall, it is forever complete! See Isaiah 53 for the prophesy of Yeshua as our scapegoat.

So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

Hebrews 9:11-12

Days of Awe and Our Preparation

During the past 10 days, the Days of Awe, the sound of the shofar was meant to awaken the hearts of the people and to remind us that Messiah is coming soon. This day, the Day of Atonement, is a reminder that the final judgment is coming at Christ’s return. Understanding this day and observing all the Fall Feasts is part of our preparation for His arrival. This yearly cycle provides opportunity for us to grow in our understanding of God’s heart for His people. Therefore, it is critical that we pay attention, gain insight, and call others to attention.

When the final day of atonement comes, those who have made themselves ready to receive the Bridegroom will rejoice and celebrate His Presence for all eternity. Forever, we will be with Yeshua, every tear wiped away, no more sorrow, no more shame as it says in Rev 21:3-5. We must fix our gaze on Him, knowing that everything we experience here and now will be worth it when we see Him face to face. Until he comes, we labor with Him to see His dream fulfilled. He is coming to receive His inheritance, which is all those He has died to save. What a privilege we have to be part of harvesting His Beloved!

Let us live as those marked by the blood of the Lamb, awaiting the Day with holy anticipation.