Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur, which means, "Day of Atonement", is a feast of the L-rd that is established in the book of Leviticus 23.
26 Adonai said to Moshe, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is Yom-Kippur; you are to have a holy convocation, you are to deny yourselves, and you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai. 28 You are not to do any kind of work on that day, because it is Yom-Kippur, to make atonement for you before Adonai your God. 29 Anyone who does not deny himself on that day is to be cut off from his people; 30 and anyone who does any kind of work on that day, I will destroy from among his people. 31 You are not to do any kind of work; it is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live. 32 It will be for you a Shabbat of complete rest, and you are to deny yourselves; you are to rest on your Shabbat from evening the ninth day of the month until the following evening.”
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for the children of Israel. It was the one time of year where the High Priest, (Cohen HaGadol) could enter into the holy of holies. This was a section of the tabernacle, and later the Temple in Jerusalem, where the Ark of the Covenant rested behind a veil, or curtain. This is where the divine presence of our L-rd physically dwelt here on the Earth.
During this time, sacrifices would be made. First, the High Priest would atone for his own sins, and then the sins of the entire nation of Israel. This was marked by specific ritual as outlined in the Torah, in the book of Leviticus. As always, the sacrifice was supposed to be without blemish, meaning, no signs of uncleanness, which represents sin.
During Yom Kippur, several things are done:
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Beginning at sundown on Yom Kippur, until sundown the next day, is to be a time of complete fasting. This is in keeping with the verse mention above, "You are to deny yourselves."
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During this time, we are to draw even closer to the L-rd, and to make sure that our hearts are right with Him. The days leading up to Yom Kippur, prior to Yom Teruah, are a time of repentance, or "teshuvah" in Hebrew.
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Just as the High Priest wore white clothing when entering the Mishkan (Tabernacle), it is customary for people to wear white on this day, as a sign of purity before G-d.
This Feast of the L-rd, reminds us of what our L-rd Yeshua did, when He sacrificed Himself on the cross. He was without sin, and thus a perfect, unblemished sacrifice. The ultimate sacrifice for our sins, and thus, what He did was sufficient enough to atone for all our sins and transgressions.
Hebrews 5:
5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Yeshua has atoned for all our sins, through the shedding of His blood. He has overcome the penalty of sin!
Romans 6:
23 For what one earns from sin is death; but eternal life is what one receives as a free gift from God, in union with the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
Join us for this special Feast of the L-rd. If you do not know Yeshua (Jesus) as your Savior, it is not too late to give your heart over to Him. He can and will cleanse you from your past sins, and you can have eternal life in Heaven with Yeshua and G-d Almighty!