In Part 1 we saw
that David and Solomon led the nation to build a temple. Although some
comparisons are fair, it is not really accurate to say that the temple was like
“church.” This temple existed as a way for mankind to appease God’s wrath.
The temple, which
was built according to God’s specifications, had an outer courtyard where each
person was allowed to come for a sacrifice. But inside the temple, in the Holy
Place, only the priests were allowed to go. At the back of that room was a
large veil—a 60 foot high, 4 inch thick veil—that led into the Most Holy Place
(or Holy of Holies). Only the high priest could enter that room, and only once
a year on the Day of Atonement.
On the Day of
Atonement (Yom Kippur), the high priest would offer a sacrifice on behalf of
the entire nation. This did not forgive sins (“For it is not possible that the
blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” Hebrews 10:4), but simply
appeased God’s wrath (an idea known as “propitiation”).
The word
atonement was invented by William Tyndale when he was translating the Bible
into English. He simply combined the words “at one” into atone, meaning that we
can become at one with God. The word literally means “to cover.”
The first time we
see this covering is in Genesis 3:21, “And for the man and his wife the Lord
made tunics of skin and clothed them.” This is the first picture of salvation.
Most believe that God used the skin of a lamb for this covering, and it is
impossible to skin a lamb without killing it and shedding its blood.
So years later,
when God called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, the Egyptian pharaoh
said no. So God sent 9 successive plagues, each to convince pharaoh that He
meant business, but each time the pharaoh said no. This led to the 10th
and final plague, the death of the first-born. God announced that He would go
through all Egypt during the night and kill the firstborn of every creature,
man or cattle. But there was one exception.
God said that if
a family would kill a spotless lamb (symbolizing purity) and put its blood on
the lintels of their door (forming a cross—centuries before crucifixion was
invented), then their first-born would be saved. God said, “When I see the
blood I will pass over you.” (Exodus 12:13). This event became known as the
Passover, and it is celebrated by Jews each year to this day.
What the Old
Testament shows us is that from the first time man sinned, God required death,
both physical and spiritual. Adam did not keel over, but his immortality kicked
in. But God also instituted the idea of a sacrifice, that something else could
die in one’s place. In the Garden of Eden it was a lamb; in Egypt it was
another lamb; at every Passover it was a lamb; and on each Day of Atonement, it
was a lamb. To pay for sin God requires death, and the shedding of innocent
blood. Anyone can die and shed blood, but none of us has innocent blood.
That is why when
Jesus came on the scene in John 1:29 John the Baptist announced Him as “the
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” When Jesus died on the cross,
He shed innocent blood. And for all who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their
sacrifice for sins, God will accept it. And we don’t need to worry about making
other sacrifices. Read Hebrews 9:6-15 and 10:11-14.
Just to top
things off, do you know what time Jesus died on the cross? The Bible tells us
it was the 9th hour, or 3:00 PM. That is not just a random detail:
Jesus died on Passover at the exact
time that the annual sacrifice was to take place. God made a final sacrifice
for us.
Since it was
3:00, the temple was full of people fulfilling their obligations. They were all
witnesses when the temple veil was ripped from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).
This was God’s way of saying that the old system was complete, and we now have
access directly to God through Jesus Christ.
But does that
mean that everything in in the Old Testament is purely history? Are we still
under its laws? Read Part 3.
(Read Part 1 here)
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