What’s your favorite book of the Bible? I bet you didn’t just think of Leviticus. Leviticus is filled with overwhelming detail about the duties of God’s people and the building of God’s dwelling place, the tabernacle. As I’ve been reading Leviticus, I’ve been surprised at the significance of the role of the priest. Over and over, the phrase, “…the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean” (Leviticus 14:20b) appears. God’s people were called to bring sacrifices to the priests, and the priests made atonement for them so they would be cleansed. In fact, God took care of people who were poor and could not afford an expensive sacrifice by providing alternative sacrifices (see Leviticus 5:7–13 for an example). Clearly, this specific care reveals God’s love for His people. While God’s love for His people was massive, people could not directly experience that love because of sin. They needed a priest to go between them and God.
Imagine standing in the heat of the desert, outside of the tabernacle as you waited for the priest to atone for your sins. The animal you brought for the sacrifice is squirming, and you’re tired and feeling unclean because of your sin. Finally, the priest calls you up. It’s your time. As you watch the priest make the sacrifice that covers your sins, a weight is lifted from your shoulders. You are clean. You are right with the Holy God. What a sense of peaceful relief the feeling of finally being right with God must have brought God’s people! However incredible that feeling was, it was temporary. The people of Israel had to repeatedly offer sacrifices because they repeatedly sinned. Uncleanliness became a pattern as people broke the commands of God time and time again.
What a change the sacrifice of Christ brought. Instead of needing to go to a priest to access God, people could now directly speak with the Father because of the sacrifice of the Son. What a transformative change in identity. The sacrifice of Christ transformed God’s people from living in uncleanliness to living cleansed forever. They went from neediness to dependence on the One who met all their needs. Instead of having to wait for a priest to mediate between them and God, people could directly confess sins and speak with the Father themselves.
Are we living in the reality of Christ’s sacrifice? As Hebrews 9:11–12 reminds us, the sacrifice of Christ fully covers all of our sins: it was a one-time sacrifice with the daily results of freedom and forgiveness. Let’s walk in the identity He died for us to have today, and communicate with our Father who loves and cares for us.
Even though we have full access to God through Christ, sometimes it is difficult to truly enter God’s presence. What hinders you from entering God’s presence and speaking openly with God?
It is difficult for me to enter God’s presence when I feel guilty about mistakes I’ve made. It can be hard for me to remember that my sins are already paid for, so I can feel that I have to say or do the right thing in order to earn God’s forgiveness. This can be exhausting and can push me away from the throne of my Heavenly Father. Praise God for His complete forgiveness that is present regardless of my feelings. Praise God for His grace!