Alesaggio
01-16-2004, 11:06 AM
Lev. 16 is the setting for this study.
The apostle John in the book of revelation writes in Revelation 13:8 that the Lamb of God "was slain from the foundation of the world". Before God even created the world, before He set the stars in place, before He breathed the breathe of life into the nostrils of man, God knew that Mankind would fall, He knew that mankind would sin and rebel against Him. And knowing this, God planned and God set in motion, the means for mankind’s redemption, through the death and atoning sacrifice of the Lamb, Jesus Christ—God manifest in the flesh.
And that plan would dramatically unfold throughout the years of human history, and at just the right time, at just the right moment in human history, God Himself came and dwelt with man, in the fullness of time, to make atonement for, and to redeem fallen men.
The Day of Atonement is described in detail in the 16th chapter of Leviticus. In this chapter, God the Master Painter takes out the canvas, the paint, and the brush of His Word. And, as He skillfully blends the colors, that make up His masterpiece of atonement, the words of the 16th chapter come to life on the canvas.
The crowd slowly gathered, they were quiet; they were reverent and a little afraid, as they gathered around the tent of meeting. This was the great Day of Atonement, this was the day that God Himself had appointed, this was the day when Aaron their High Priest, would be their Mediator, When Aaron their High Priest would stand between God and the people. On this day, (7th month 10th day) atonement would be made for their sins. This Atonement provided the way for the people to be AT ONE with God.
Moses’ brother, Aaron, was the high priest, He was the one chosen to be the mediator, chosen to stand between God and the Israelites. Aaron was allowed to go into the Most Holy place, only once a year, on the Day of Atonement.
The Most Holy Place was located behind the thick veil in the tabernacle. And it was in this room that the Ark of the Covenant was kept. And on top of the Ark of the Covenant was the Atonement cover, made of gold, with cherubim on top with their wings folded down and their heads bowing towards the center of the cover. And above that Mercy Seat was a cloud, the shekinah, in which dwelt the presence of God.
Only Aaron the High Priest could enter there, and only once a year and then “not without blood.” Aaron would have slowly walked through the Holy place (passed the table of showbread, passed the golden lamb stand, and finally passed the altar of incense) and then with head bowed low He would have walked passed the thick veil, and then He would be in the Most Holy Place, The Holy of Holies, there right above the Ark of the Covenant would be the very glory of God.
The God of Israel, our God is a Holy God, and man, even if he is the High Priest, could not simply crawl out of bed, walk out of his tent, and walk into the presence of God. There were certain things that the High Priest was required to do before he was allowed access to the Holy of Holies, if he came in without meeting the standard set by God, he would be met with the same fate as Nadab and Abihu (Aarons sons)--death.
Aaron had to bathe himself and he had to put on sacred garments. The High Priest had to be spotless in dress. And because Aaron was not without sin, he first had to make atonement for his own sins and for the sin of his household by sacrificing a bull. Only when Aaron, the high Priest had made himself ready, could he take the blood of the sacrificed animal into the presence of God, to make atonement for the people.
Every year the High Priest bore the heavy burden of being the mediator between God and His people. Every year he would offer the same sacrifices. And every year the responsibility was entirely his, he had do to it alone. No one was allowed to be with him or help him as he carried out this vital task.
And as the light of God’s revealed Word shines on the Old Testament High Priests, we will see that it is a portrait of Jesus Christ, who is our Mediator, The ONE who stands between God, and all people. In Jesus the Glory, splendor and power of the High Priest comes to full life to make AT ONE MENT for His people.
Aaron bore the heavy burden of responsibility all alone. However, it was only a picture of the much more crushing load which lay on upon the shoulders of our Great High Priest—Jesus Christ. All through His life, this heavy weight was upon Him, pressing with ever increasing force. And in the garden we see this burden reach its cruel, crushing climax. He saw in the distance the flickering lights of torches and He heard the familiar sound of soldiers in armor as they marched up the hill. He knew the time was at hand. He knew what the coming hours would bring. He would stand before Jewish and Roman leaders. His back was destined to be whipped raw as a Roman scourge 39 times tore across His flesh.
Beatings, mockings, insults, pain, nails and a cruel cross of wood is what lay before Him. As he stood up from His place of prayer he watched as His disciples scattered in terror. No one could help Him or be with him as He performed His High Priestly duty.
Jesus is our High Priest and He is far better than any other:
* Aaron was spotless in dress; Jesus Christ was spotless in character, without blemish.
* Aaron entered the earthly tabernacle; Jesus Christ entered the heavenly tabernacle.
* Aaron entered behind the veil; Jesus Christ ripped opened the veil.
* Aaron offered for his own sins; Jesus Christ, being without sin, offered only for our sin.
* Aaron entered once a year; Jesus Christ entered once for all.
* Aaron offered for the whole nation; Jesus Christ offered for the whole world.
* Aaron offered many sacrifices; Jesus Christ offered one sacrifice--Himself.
* Aaron offered blood of animals; Jesus Christ offered His own “precious” blood.
Jesus Christ brings to life and adds color and beauty to the Old Testament shadow of The Great High Priest.
The apostle John in the book of revelation writes in Revelation 13:8 that the Lamb of God "was slain from the foundation of the world". Before God even created the world, before He set the stars in place, before He breathed the breathe of life into the nostrils of man, God knew that Mankind would fall, He knew that mankind would sin and rebel against Him. And knowing this, God planned and God set in motion, the means for mankind’s redemption, through the death and atoning sacrifice of the Lamb, Jesus Christ—God manifest in the flesh.
And that plan would dramatically unfold throughout the years of human history, and at just the right time, at just the right moment in human history, God Himself came and dwelt with man, in the fullness of time, to make atonement for, and to redeem fallen men.
The Day of Atonement is described in detail in the 16th chapter of Leviticus. In this chapter, God the Master Painter takes out the canvas, the paint, and the brush of His Word. And, as He skillfully blends the colors, that make up His masterpiece of atonement, the words of the 16th chapter come to life on the canvas.
The crowd slowly gathered, they were quiet; they were reverent and a little afraid, as they gathered around the tent of meeting. This was the great Day of Atonement, this was the day that God Himself had appointed, this was the day when Aaron their High Priest, would be their Mediator, When Aaron their High Priest would stand between God and the people. On this day, (7th month 10th day) atonement would be made for their sins. This Atonement provided the way for the people to be AT ONE with God.
Moses’ brother, Aaron, was the high priest, He was the one chosen to be the mediator, chosen to stand between God and the Israelites. Aaron was allowed to go into the Most Holy place, only once a year, on the Day of Atonement.
The Most Holy Place was located behind the thick veil in the tabernacle. And it was in this room that the Ark of the Covenant was kept. And on top of the Ark of the Covenant was the Atonement cover, made of gold, with cherubim on top with their wings folded down and their heads bowing towards the center of the cover. And above that Mercy Seat was a cloud, the shekinah, in which dwelt the presence of God.
Only Aaron the High Priest could enter there, and only once a year and then “not without blood.” Aaron would have slowly walked through the Holy place (passed the table of showbread, passed the golden lamb stand, and finally passed the altar of incense) and then with head bowed low He would have walked passed the thick veil, and then He would be in the Most Holy Place, The Holy of Holies, there right above the Ark of the Covenant would be the very glory of God.
The God of Israel, our God is a Holy God, and man, even if he is the High Priest, could not simply crawl out of bed, walk out of his tent, and walk into the presence of God. There were certain things that the High Priest was required to do before he was allowed access to the Holy of Holies, if he came in without meeting the standard set by God, he would be met with the same fate as Nadab and Abihu (Aarons sons)--death.
Aaron had to bathe himself and he had to put on sacred garments. The High Priest had to be spotless in dress. And because Aaron was not without sin, he first had to make atonement for his own sins and for the sin of his household by sacrificing a bull. Only when Aaron, the high Priest had made himself ready, could he take the blood of the sacrificed animal into the presence of God, to make atonement for the people.
Every year the High Priest bore the heavy burden of being the mediator between God and His people. Every year he would offer the same sacrifices. And every year the responsibility was entirely his, he had do to it alone. No one was allowed to be with him or help him as he carried out this vital task.
And as the light of God’s revealed Word shines on the Old Testament High Priests, we will see that it is a portrait of Jesus Christ, who is our Mediator, The ONE who stands between God, and all people. In Jesus the Glory, splendor and power of the High Priest comes to full life to make AT ONE MENT for His people.
Aaron bore the heavy burden of responsibility all alone. However, it was only a picture of the much more crushing load which lay on upon the shoulders of our Great High Priest—Jesus Christ. All through His life, this heavy weight was upon Him, pressing with ever increasing force. And in the garden we see this burden reach its cruel, crushing climax. He saw in the distance the flickering lights of torches and He heard the familiar sound of soldiers in armor as they marched up the hill. He knew the time was at hand. He knew what the coming hours would bring. He would stand before Jewish and Roman leaders. His back was destined to be whipped raw as a Roman scourge 39 times tore across His flesh.
Beatings, mockings, insults, pain, nails and a cruel cross of wood is what lay before Him. As he stood up from His place of prayer he watched as His disciples scattered in terror. No one could help Him or be with him as He performed His High Priestly duty.
Jesus is our High Priest and He is far better than any other:
* Aaron was spotless in dress; Jesus Christ was spotless in character, without blemish.
* Aaron entered the earthly tabernacle; Jesus Christ entered the heavenly tabernacle.
* Aaron entered behind the veil; Jesus Christ ripped opened the veil.
* Aaron offered for his own sins; Jesus Christ, being without sin, offered only for our sin.
* Aaron entered once a year; Jesus Christ entered once for all.
* Aaron offered for the whole nation; Jesus Christ offered for the whole world.
* Aaron offered many sacrifices; Jesus Christ offered one sacrifice--Himself.
* Aaron offered blood of animals; Jesus Christ offered His own “precious” blood.
Jesus Christ brings to life and adds color and beauty to the Old Testament shadow of The Great High Priest.