“Jesus, Our Great High Priest”
Leviticus 16:3-10
Leviticus used to be the first book Jewish children studied in the synagogue. For Christians, though, Leviticus tends to be one of the last books we study. Many of us are like the lady who was asked if she had ever read the Bible all the way through. She said, “I have started to read it through three times, but each time I got bogged down in the book of Leviticus. I enjoy Genesis and Exodus, but Leviticus was such dull reading I became discouraged and gave up.”
You may agree with her assessment. Leviticus is full of laws and regulations. Compared to other portions of the Bible, Leviticus is dull. Leviticus, however, contains one of the clearest images of Jesus in the Old Testament. Jesus is our Great High Priest. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. (Hebrews 4:14)
Everything which happened in Leviticus was intended to point to Jesus. In chapter 16, we are introduced to Aaron, Israel’s high priest, who enters the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people. Aaron points us to our Great High Priest, Jesus, who made atonement for our sins on the cross. SCRIPTURE
One day a year, the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies, into the presence of God, to atone for the sins of all the people. That is, to bring the people into a right relationship with God through blood sacrifices. The Bible says, in Hebrews 9:22, "Apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."
A week beforehand, the high priest was put into seclusion, taken away from his home to a place where he was completely alone so he would not accidentally touch or eat anything unclean. He would wash his body and prepare his heart.
The night before the Day of Atonement, he stayed up all night praying and reading God’s Word to purify his soul. The next day, he bathed head to toe and dressed in pure, unstained white linen. He then went into the Holy of Holies and offered an animal sacrifice to God to pay the penalty for his own sins.
Then he came out, bathed again, and new white linen was put on him. He went in again, this time sacrificing for the sins of the priests. Coming out a third time, he bathed from head to toe, dressed in new linen, went into the Holy of Holies and atoned for the sins of all the people.
This was all done in public. Those in attendance watched as he bathed behind a thin screen separating them from the holy place, then dress, go in, and come back out. As their representative before God, they were there cheering him on. So how does all of this point us to Jesus?
Remember, the Day of Atonement and the book of Leviticus is all about Jesus. Passion Week was the Day of Atonement for Jesus, our Great High Priest. Like Aaron, Jesus began His preparation a week beforehand as He entered triumphantly into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and ate the Passover meal with His disciples.
Like Aaron, the night before His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus stayed up all night praying to His Father. The following day, He was not clothed in rich garments like the Jewish high priest but was stripped of the only garment He had. Instead of being cheered on by His people like Aaron, Jesus was jeered by them, abandoned by nearly everyone He loved.
Jesus was not bathed in a purifying pool. He was bathed in human spit. When He came before God, Jesus did not receive words of encouragement. He felt the Father’s face turn away. He died, even though He had no defilement on Him. The One who never sinned paid the price I owe for my sin.
When Jesus breathed His last and cried out, It is finished, the temple responded. The thick curtain standing between the Holy of Holies and the people, the symbol of God’s separation from humanity, was torn in two. For the first time in history, the way to God was wide open. No longer is there a need for a high priest to offer a sacrifice for my sin. I have direct access to the God the Father.
Leviticus 16:23 says when Aaron was done with this atonement ceremony, he was to take off his linens. When Peter and John rushed to the empty tomb, they found only linens because the atonement of Christ was finished. Jesus is our Great High Priest!
People misunderstand Leviticus. Hebrews explains it this way. “Look how many laws there are!” But Leviticus was not written primarily to tell the people all they needed to do, but to show them all God would do for them. The effect of reading Leviticus should not be, “Look at how much I have to do for you, God!” Rather, “Oh, my God, look at how much You have done for me!” Leviticus is the story of what God did to rescue sinful humanity.
The Day of Atonement simply points to Jesus. The law can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4)
The Hebrew writer says this Day of Atonement did not happen just once. It happened over and over, year after year. Every year they had to find another goat and the high priest had to go through the process all over again. The sin of the people remained.
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:11-14)
Can you imagine what good news it was for the Jews when they finally realized they did not have to go through the rituals of the Day of Atonement every year? On the cross, the death of Jesus, our Great High Priest, paid our sin debt, and He only had to do it one time.
Actor Kevin Bacon recounted when his 6-year-old son saw Footloose for the first time. He said, “Hey, Dad, you know that thing in the movie where you swing from the rafters of that building? That’s really cool, how did you do that?” I said, “I didn’t do that part, it was a stunt double.” “What’s a stunt double?” he asked. “That’s someone who dresses like me and does things I can’t do.” “Oh,” he replied and walked out of the room looking a little confused.
A little later he said, “Hey, Dad, you know that thing in the movie where you spin around on that gym bar and land on your feet? How did you do that?” I said, “I didn’t do that. It was a gymnastics double.” “What’s a gymnastics double?” he asked. “That’s a guy who dresses like me and does things I can’t do.” There was silence from my son, then he asked, “So dad, what did you do?” “I got all the glory,” I sheepishly replied.
Such is the grace of God in our lives. Jesus, clothed in flesh like you and me, took our sin upon Himself and did what we could not do. We stand forgiven and bask in the glory of Jesus. On the cross the penalty of sin has been removed. Jesus has paid the debt. We have free access into the presence of God.
