Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement

Each year, according to the Mosaic law, the Jewish people must devote a period of time (8 days) to seeking forgiveness from God & others and reflecting on their actions over the past year and the purpose in the new year to come. This culminates in Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) - the holiest and most solemn day of fasting and prayer.  Before the destruction of the Temple, sacrifices were made to atone for the sins of the people over the past year - most importantly by the High Priest who would enter the Most Holy Place. It is my understanding that a representative sacrifice is made which includes swinging a chicken around above the head and then killing it for the blood and giving the meat to someone in need.  For more modern/reformed Jews, money might stand in the place of a chicken as a symbol of this action (but this does not provide blood).  The day ends with the blowing of the shofar.

Today as I cycled down the middle of the main road that heads toward Ashkelon (everything shuts down and cars are frowned upon), enjoying the empty streets and still-summer-desert-sunshine, I spent a lot of time thinking about the correlates between the law and grace.  As Gentiles, much of the fullness of the Gospel and the 'intentionality' of God in crafting His plan of salvation is hidden because of our lack of understanding or pursuit of knowledge about the relationship God has with Israel. At the very least, the deep significance of the scripture that connects Jesus as our High Priest is dampened. Sometimes I feel like I've been called here more for a thorough and experiential education on the heart of God through all of Scripture than to be a medical student. :)

If you have the chance, read Hebrews 4:14-10:39... It outlines entirely why Jesus has become the atonement for sin, the pure and spotless Lamb of God.

Below is an excerpt.  I'm humbled more and more as the Lord reveals how great His love and sufficient His grace are for me - and how deep His mercy that He should offer it again and again (to a stubborn and rebellious humanity).

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession...Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Beacuse of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him who said: "You are my Son, today I have begotten you" (Psalm 2:7), as He also says: "You are a preist forever, after the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4)

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness...the Holy Place and behind the second curtain was the Most Holy Place. Into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year [Yom Kippur], and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

But when Christ appeared as high priest, he entered once for all into the holy places by the new and living way that he opened through the curtain (c. Matthew 27:51), not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption."  

 Laying in the middle of the busy intersection. Just because I can.  (Yom Kippur, 2010)

(Soroka Hospital in the background )