On the Day of Atonement, one man went where no one else could go: behind the veil, into the Most Holy Place. Hebrews says that was a picture of something Jesus would do.
Once a year. “Into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins” (Hebrews 9:7). Only one man could go in, on only one day, and never without a sacrifice.
Not just any time. God told Aaron not to come “at just any time” (Leviticus 16:2). The way into God's presence was mostly closed.
A sinful priest. Aaron had to offer a bull for his own sins first (Leviticus 16:6). He was a good man, but he was a sinner like everyone else.
A perfect Priest. Jesus is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). He never needed a sacrifice for Himself.
His own blood. “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). Redemption means being bought back and set free.
Heaven itself. “Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands… but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24). Aaron entered a tent. Jesus entered heaven.
Once for all. “Now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). He never has to do it again.
The veil torn. When Jesus died, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). The way into God's presence was opened. It tore from the top, because God did it.
Come in. Now we have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way” (Hebrews 10:19-20). We do not have to wait for one day a year.
Praying for us. Jesus “always lives to make intercession” for His people (Hebrews 7:25). Intercession means praying for someone else.
Come boldly. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
What we learn. Jesus is the High Priest who went all the way into God's presence for us, and He made a way for us to follow.
What to do. This week, pray at a time when you would not usually pray. Remember that because of Jesus, you can come to God any time.
On the Day of Atonement, Aaron laid his hands on a living goat and sent it far into the desert. It was a picture of what God does with our sins when He forgives us.
Every sin. Aaron confessed “all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins” (Leviticus 16:21). Nothing was held back.
Far away. “The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land” (Leviticus 16:22). It went to a lonely place where no one lived, and it did not come back.
Like sheep. “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Our sins were laid on Jesus.
He bore it. “He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Jesus carried our sins the way the goat carried Israel's.
Takes away. John the Baptist said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus does not just cover sin. He takes it away.
East and west. “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). You can travel east forever and never reach the west.
The deep sea. “You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). Things thrown into the deepest sea are never found again.
Behind His back. King Hezekiah prayed, “You have cast all my sins behind Your back” (Isaiah 38:17). God chooses not to look at forgiven sins anymore.
Remembered no more. God promised, “their sin I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). Hebrews repeats it for everyone in Christ (Hebrews 8:12).
Nailed to the cross. Paul wrote that God forgave “all trespasses,” and the list against us He “has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).
When we remember. Sometimes we keep thinking about things God has already forgiven. When that happens, remember the goat walking far into the desert.
What we learn. When God forgives, our sins are carried far away, through Jesus.
What to do. If something you did is still bothering you, tell God about it. Then thank Him that in Jesus it is carried far away.
Complete all sections to finish!
Read each section and answer the questions correctly.