Holy Week and from the beginning

This Holy week, my daily scripture reading just happened to take me to Leviticus 16. In that chapter, which is called The Day of Atonement, the instructions are given for how the priest, Aaron, was to atone (make amends or reparation) for the sins of the people. This involved process required sacrifices but also the putting of sins on a live goat who would carry those sins into the wilderness. And in verse thirty-four, we read, “Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.”

Once a year, the priest went through this.

I’m amazed at the folks who minimize the importance of the Old Testament books, because they are missing so much. In this one chapter, we see the stage being set for what God would do through his son, Jesus.

In the Wycliffe Bible Commentary, we read, “The entire ritual, imperfect and of necessity repetitive as it was, tended only to make the devout long for the coming of the High Priest and Perfect Mediator who should, by one act, fulfill for all time all the requirements necessary to effect perfect reconciliation with the Father.”

Jesus did come and effect that perfect reconciliation.

In Hebrews 7, Paul writes, “He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” No repeating the same ritual because of what Jesus did.

And in Hebrews 9, “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” No more animal sacrifices, because Jesus was the sacrifice.

As to that whole business about sending the goat in the wilderness, Paul writes in Hebrews 13, “Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.”

Jesus was both sacrifice and priest and when he rose from the dead, he ascended into Heaven, the true Holy place. Jesus was that perfect mediator for us.

I can see them now, the disciples on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion distraught at their own unfaithfulness, confused by what happened, and wondering how they would go on. Just days before when they entered Jerusalem, were they sure Jesus’ reign as King was imminent?

And now, it seemed all was lost. I can’t imagine their disappointment. They hadn’t put it all together, but we know how the story goes, and in only days, Jesus would rise again as the King of Kings.

No more yearly rituals, no more spilling of blood for sin, no more sending that goat into the wilderness, no more longing for one who would reconcile us to the Father, because Jesus has done it all.

This Holy Week, let’s remember this as we follow him down the Via Delarosa and as we read about and remember  his suffering on the Cross. But unlike the disciples, on Friday, we will know that Sunday is coming because from the very beginning God was making a way for us.

All praise and all glory  be to Him!

Friends, may your Holy Week and Easter be especially meaningful this year!!