CHRIST AND THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

    The Day of Atonement is full of symbolism pointing to the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the NT, the author of Hebrews points out how the new covenant fulfills the typology (i.e., prophetic symbolism) of the Day of Atonement ritual (see Heb 9:6–10:18)

(1) The fact that the OT sacrifices had to be repeated each year shows that they were only temporary. They pointed ahead to the time when Christ would come to permanently take away all confessed sin (cf. Heb 9:28; 10:10-18).

(2) The two goats represent the atonement (i.e., sin covering), forgiveness and cleansing finally and completely accomplished by Christ. They also represent God’s great desire for humankind to be reconciled (i.e., brought back into a right relationship) with him. God never stopped wanting humankind to be restored and reunited with him. Jesus’ death provides that reconciliation. The goat that was killed represents Jesus’ sacrifice and how he died in our place to pay for our sins (Ro 3:24-26; Heb 9:11-12, 24-26). The scapegoat, released into the wilderness bearing the nation’s sins, represents how Jesus took our guilt and sin upon himself (2Co 5:21; 1Pe 2:24). By taking our punishment, he is able to remove sin and guilt from our lives. All who accept his forgiveness, turn from their own way and follow him are freed from their sin (Ps 103:12; Isa 53:6, 11-12; Jn 1:29; Heb 9:26).

(3) The sacrifices on the Day of Atonement “covered over” sin, but they could not actually remove it. The blood Christ shed on the cross, however, is God’s highest and complete atonement for humankind. It takes sin away permanently (cf. Heb 10:4, 10-11). Christ’s sinless life provided the perfect sacrifice (Heb 9:26; 10:5-10). His life, which he sacrificed for us, was able to pay the full penalty for our sins (Ro 3:25-26; 6:23; Gal 3:13; 2Co 5:21). His atonement for us removes God’s wrath (i.e., justified anger and punishment), reconciles (i.e., reunites) us to him and renews our relationship with him (Ro 5:6-11; 2Co 5:18-19; 1Pe 1:18-19; 1Jn 2:2).

(4) The Most Holy Place where the high priest entered with the blood represents God’s throne in heaven. After his death, Christ re-entered this heavenly “Most Holy Place,” bringing his own blood to God’s throne to make atonement for us (Ex 30:10; Heb 9:7-8, 11-12, 24-28).

(5) Since animal sacrifices were a prophetic symbol pointing to Christ’s perfect sacrifice for sin, there is now no more need for animal sacrifices. Jesus’ death on the cross canceled the need for them (Heb 9:12-18). This is why the apostle Peter said that Jesus sacrificed himself “once for all … to bring you to God” (1Pe 3:18).