“Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.”

Leviticus 16:11 (ESV)

The Day of Atonement occurred after the Feast of Trumpets on the 10th day of the seventh month. This was part of the fall festival. It was followed by the Feast of Tabernacles. This day, more than any other, pictures the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. One day in the year atonement was made for the entire congregation.

Aaron had to first sacrifice a bull for his own sins. This is the one time that blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. In fact, it was the only day in the year when the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place where God dwelt among the people. After making atonement for his own sins, Aaron would sacrifice a goat as a sin offering for the congregation. Once again, he would sprinkle the blood from this sacrifice on the mercy seat.

Now the second goat, the scapegoat was released into the wilderness. This symbolized the people being released from their sins. Their sins were literally carried off into the wilderness!

Consider how this Day of Atonement foreshadows the work of Christ on the cross. On one day Jesus made atonement for all our sins. The blood of bulls and goats could not remove sin. It could only cover it until the better sacrifice came. That sacrifice was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. How great is the forgiveness we have in Jesus Christ! Because of His blood, atonement for us is AT-ONE-MENT with God! Let us take time to give thanks to God for His complete forgiveness, for whoever has been forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47).

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Photo by Rodolfo Clix