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-The Music Man will be presented as our fall theatrical event...click here (www.ChristMemorialProductions.org) for full details and audition information. 

      Performances: November 13, 14,15 at 7:30 pm and November 16 at 2:00.

      Auditions: August 16 and 17 from 1- 5 PM..

Devotions

Day of Atonement

Takes Away Our Sins

Readings: Leviticus 16:20-22 and John 1:29

Special worship services were important for the children of Israel even as they traveled through the desert. Once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kipper), the high priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place—the most sacred part of the tabernacle.

There he would sprinkle blood on the ark of the covenant (a wooden chest overlaid with gold). In this way, atonement would be made for the sins of the people (Lev. 16:15-17).

This blood is a reminder of the blood Jesus would shed for us on Calvary’s cross to atone (or pay) for our sins.

In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, there was a technical term used to refer to the lid on the ark. It is frequently translated as “atonement cover” (Lev. 16:13, 14, 15) or “sacrifice of atonement.” St. Paul chose to use that very same Greek word to refer to Jesus when he wrote; “God presented Him [Jesus] as a ‘sacrifice of atonement’ [or atonement cover]” (Rom. 3:25). Jesus, stained with His own blood, is the atonement cover for our sins. The first Good Friday is our Day of Atonement. That was the day all our sins were taken away.

After the high priest sprinkled the blood on the atonement cover, he would return outside. There he would lay both his hands on the head of a live goat and confess all the sins of the people. In that way their sins would be placed upon the goat. Then the goat would be released into the desert. “The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place” (Lev. 16:22).

Through the means of this scapegoat, God removed the sins of the people. Here again is another picture of the work of Jesus on Good Friday. As the Old Testament prophet Isaiah said, “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Is. 53: 6). So also John the Baptizer said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). God placed upon Jesus all the sins of the world. As the Old Testament scapegoat was sent into the desert, so Christ was sent to Calvary, bearing our sins to atone for each and every one. There on the cross His heavenly Father turned His back on Him (Matt. 27:46) so that He would never turn His back on us (Deut. 31:6, Heb. 13:5).

Because of Jesus our sins are removed. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12). We no longer need to feel guilty about our past however grievous it might be. All our sins are taken away. Our guilt is gone forever. Through His death He paid the debt we owe—a debt we could never repay (Matt. 18:23-26). “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

Prayer: Jesus, You have freed me from the burden of my sin. Even though I do not deserve Your blessings, You received my sins upon Yourself and You took the punishment that I deserved. You shed Your blood for me. Thank You. Amen.