The Two Fold Blessing Of, ‘Semikhah.’
Leviticus 16:20-21
Sacrificing an animal for sin involved many sacred acts before the animal could be offered in Israel. That was especially true on the day of Yom Kippur, the most holy day for the Hebrews, when the scapegoat was offered for the sins of the entire nation.
Whether a sacrifice for an individual or the entire nation, there was one requirement that had to take place. -There had to be physical contact by the priest or the individual who was offering the sacrifice with the sacrifice itself.
In both cases, the palms of the hands had to be laid upon the head of the sacrifice.
Leviticus 16:20-21NIV “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. 21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task.
In the Old Testament on the day of Yom Kippur, God had given specific orders that Aaron, as the high priest, was to lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat (the scapegoat) and confess upon it all the iniquities of the children of Israel.
Therefore this process of laying hands on the head of the sacrifice was called the, Semikhah in Hebrew.
The word semikhah derives from a Hebrew root that means to "rely on", in the sense of "lean on", or "to be authorized"; the literal meaning of semikhah is "leaning [of the hands]”.
The placing of sin on the sacrifice, by laying hands on its head and confessing your sins over it…
It was not only the priest who performed the Semikhah, it was performed by ‘whoever’ needed to be forgiven of their sins.
In Jesus’ day the Semikhah was still in practice. Jesus Christ was God’s sacrifice for the sins of the world. He became the scape goat, the Lamb without blemish, The Lion of Judah.
1 John 1:8-9AMP If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] 9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].
Therefore, the Semikhah had to be performed before Jesus could go to the cross.
The question is– was that done? And if so, who did it? Who laid their hands on the head of the great sacrifice – Jesus Christ?
Obviously to comply with God’s command, the priests had to be the ones to lay their hands on Christ’s head.
Following a travesty of a trial for Jesus it is recorded that the priests began to strike Jesus repeatedly with their hands.
In fact, both Matthew and Mark, record that the priests hit him with their fists and slapped him.
Before the church of Jesus Christ could walk in the fullness, and authority of their leader, Jesus had to have hands laid upon Him.
The ancient Greek records that the priests struck Christ in the head with the palms of their hands.
“-Exactly the requirement for the Semikhah to take place!” P.H
In order to offer up a sin offering, you had to preform the Semikhah over it.
-“You have to touch it with your hands and confess your sins over it.” P.H
James 5:16NLT Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
And by doing so, you become one with the sacrifice. -One with Jesus!
A young man and a young woman became engaged and were looking forward to a near wedding day, when the young man was suddenly called into the service of his country. From the field of warfare letters regularly came and went, and love shined brightly in all of them. Then letters from the young man abruptly stopped. A few weeks passed and then there came a letter in a strange handwriting. In it the young woman read:“There has been another battle. I have lost both my arms. I asked my comrade to write this for me, and to tell you that I release you from our engagement, for now I will not be able to work and support you.”
That letter was never answered. By the next train the young woman journeyed southward. She left the train and went directly to the hospital. Inquiring the location of the young man’s cot, she quietly approached and suddenly flung herself down by the side of his cot with the passionate words, “I will never give you up. These hands of mine will work for you. We will live our life of love together.” – S.E. DuBois, in Gospel Herald
The Apostle Paul confesses in, Galatians 2:20NIV I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Have you laid hands on the sacrifice? As you lay hands on the sacrifice (Jesus) in return, Jesus lays hands on you. -He seals you!
Ephesians 1:13NIV And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Only with that total identification, could the sacrifice die for your sins.
Q&A- Have you been crucified with Jesus Christ? -Has He laid hands on you lately?
John 3:16-18MSG “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him
What needs healing? What needs wholeness?Have you committed Semikhah over it.
Psalm 55:22NIV Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Now if we have all sinned, and Messiah is the offering for our sin, what must there also be? -The Semikhah.
It’s a total committal of past sin given over to...By faith receiving the newness of life! 2 Corinthians 5.17.
The same way Semikhah was performed in ancient times. You must touch the sacrifice and become one with it. -Become one with Jesus!
Matthew 18:18-19NASB Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
But how? The sacrifice of Messiah took place ages ago?
Remember this, the ‘One’ obedient sacrifice of Jesus transcends time, and touches all time, past, present and future.
Isaiah 44:6NIV This is what the Lord says, the King of Israel and its Redeemer—the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name—“I am the first and I am the last, and apart from me there is no God.
Revelation 1:8ASV I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Once more, I remind you that the sacrifice of Jesus transcends time, so time is of no consequence.
The Semikhah can still be performed.
You reach out your hands across time and space to touch Messiah on the cross…
According to scripture, Luke 23:39-43NLT One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Right this very moment, you reach out your hands across time, and space to touch Messiah on the cross!
You confess your sins upon him. You become one with him, just as He was one with you in His sacrifice.
That’s when it’s complete, when the two moments are joined together. That’s when your sins are forgiven and washed away.
Sounds like Salvation!
How do you become saved? -You confess your sins, you bring them to the sacrifice, and you become one with the sacrifice as the sacrifice has become one with you on the altar. P.H
The act of salvation is the act of the Semikhah. You’re performing a cosmic Semikhah across time and space.
1 Peter 5:7NASB having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.
Here’s the great news! Semikhah is not to be performed only once, but everyday of your life.
Place upon Jesus, your sins, your burdens, your fears, your shame, your cares, join every part of your life, to the sacrifice, and the sacrifice to every part of your life… And the two moments and the two lives shall be as one.
-Place your hands on His head. “Lay your life-
upon His life...Release what must be released. And be released.” P.H
Not only does Semikhah release us of our sins when given to Jesus, In return, Semikhah is also used to lay hands on a priest to set them apart for service.
Everything that transpires in your life is to make you a giver. The giver of life ‘Jesus,’ wants you to become a giver of life! P.H
Jesus has placed Semikhah on you. -The ministry of Messiah will come upon you. Have you received the ministry of Messiah, the mystery of Semikhah?
Isaiah 61:1-3NIV The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty?instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
You have been gifted; You have been chosen for such a time as this, John 15.16.
Acorn, Illustration.
Benediction.
