The Empty Greetings of Yom Kippur
Another Day of Atonement has passed for our Jewish family and friends. We have extended our greetings and well-wishing, on the most solemn day of the Jewish calendar. Even our liberal Jewish neighbors seem to observe this special day with their conservative and orthodox families.
Yom Kippur is the annual Day of Atonement, where the high priest would bring the unblemished sacrificial offering into the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple at Jerusalem. The blood of the sacrificial animal would be brought into the holiest of holies, in the most inner sanctum of the Temple complex.
The holiest place was accessed on one day each year…Yom Kippur. It was one man’s encounter with the presence of God, who dwelt with Israel in His house, above the mercy seat, which sat atop the Ark of the Covenant. The holy presence of God was a life threatening exposure for the high priest, who donned bells, to alert other priests outside the room that the man was still alive.
Carrying the blood in a vessel, the high priest would then apply the blood to the mercy seat, as an atonement for sins. Included, in this litany of sins, was the high priest’s transgressions, along with the sins of the whole nation of Israel. God accepted the blood of the unblemished substitute, as legal payment for those intentionally represented by the twelve jewels on the priest’s vestment. We must note this was not an offering for sins outside the nation of God’s chosen people (a point for particular redemption).
The high priest, upon completion of his duties, would leave the holiest of holies and not return until the next year on Yom Kippur. Offerings and sacrifices resumed and life continued. The type was set, all the way back to Aaron, Moses’ brother, who served as the first high priest, following the Exodus from Egypt. The sons of Aaron would continue this work until sacrifices in the Temple ceased in A.D. 70, at the destruction of Jerusalem, under Roman General Titus. After that, how did the Jews atone for sins with no Temple, no high priest, and no unblemished sacrificial animals?
Yahweh had already fulfilled the type with the antitype, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29; Rev 5:6, 12). Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry, served as the high priest, after the order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4; Heb 6:20). He offered up His own body, as a substitute offering for sins (1 Pet 2:24). His one-time blood sacrifice on the cross of Calvary was accepted by God His Father (Yahweh), as demonstrated by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead (Acts 17:31).
The precious blood of Christ, the Messiah of God, reconciled God’s elect to Himself (2 Cor 5:19; 1 Pet 1:19). These elect were redeemed by the once-for-all-His people offering (Rom 6:10; Heb 7:27; 9:12). God’s people are symbolically sprinkled by the blood in the non-bloody sacrament of baptism (we reject all notion of water baptismal regeneration). They receive the forgiveness of sins and share in the hope of eternal life (Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7; Titus 1:2; 3:7), having been bought for a price (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23), out of the slave market of sin (Rom 6:6, 16–20).
The death of Jesus Messiah put an end to all the types and shadows that had looked forward to the appointed day in history, when the eternal Son of God incarnate would suffer and die, laying down His life for His bride, His church (Jn 10:11, 15; Eph 5:25). On that day, Yom Kippur was no more. No more rites, nor rituals, were to be performed on special days (Gal 4:9–11).
When Jesus Christ, the high priest — offered Himself as the unblemished Lamb of God — His bearing our sins in his body on the tree (Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 2:24), was the infinite and ultimate sacrifice. “It is finished,” was His final declaration in the passive work of atonement. Although Christians refer to that day as “Good Friday,” it is not to become a replacement for Yom Kippur, which is no longer in effect because of Jesus Christ’s successful fulfillment of the type that day.
When Christians send empty greetings to our Jewish acquaintances, they are empty because there is no explanation why Yom Kippur is expired. One cannot simply say or write, “Blessed Yom Kippur!” My hope and prayer for my Christian brethren is that they will fill that void with the knowledge of truth (Jesus > Yom Kippur). It is also my hope and prayer for my Jewish family and friends that the knowledge of Jesus Messiah will have its good effect…the salvation of their souls (Acts 4:12; Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:6).
As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Not all Israel is Israel (Rom 9:6).” He was referring to the remnant of true believers, who receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11; Acts 2:38; 10:44–45). Here is the application of Christ’s work to the born again of God. In receiving the Spirit of Christ, one receives Christ himself, as the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor 15:45). In this, he or she is forgiven of sins, forever (Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7).
The one time, once-for-all-His people sacrifice has a permanent application, as forgiveness is issued for sins — past, present, and future. Our debt of sin is cancelled in full (Col 2:14). Christians, both Jew and Gentile, now live a life of faith in the Son of God (Gal 2:20), who loved us and gave himself for us (Eph 5:25).
The day of Christ’s atoning work was followed by the Spirit’s work of regeneration, on the day appointed by God, to raise our dead souls to life (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). This is in preparation for the coming Day of the Lord (Mt 24:29–31), and our bodily resurrection to life (Jn 5:28–29). Thus, we celebrate a man, who was God Himself, who ended Yom Kippur, but who gave us something far better…a permanent offering for sins that will hold for the day of eternity. Welcome to the new day, and your new understanding of the Day of Atonement.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 5, 2022
