Leviticus 16:1-34 - Sacrifice and Atonement

Last Sunday afternoon, we looked at the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. Through a detailed ceremony involving animal sacrifice, the Day of Atonement taught the people of Israel that they were sinners who deserved to die for their sins, but it also reminded them that God had graciously provided a spotless substitutionary animal to die in their place. These Old Testament shadows point us forward to Jesus Christ, the spotless Son of God who willingly offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice for our sins. While the OT priests sprinkled the blood of the animals at the foot of God’s earthly throne, Jesus Christ has appeared in heaven before His Father with His own precious blood. Although we sometimes feel our sin and guilt so deeply, Jesus Christ has provided a perfect atonement for us through His once-for-all sacrifice that covers our sins and makes us at-one with God. This week, take some time to re-read Leviticus 16 and thank God for the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ.