Christ As Priest

The day of atonement occupies a singular place as it reveals the Great High Priest over the house of God. In Leviticus 16, we see our Great High Priest

1. The person of our Great High Priest (16:4)
   We see the Great High Priest through the clothing that the priest wore. In this clothing, we learn of the simplicity and purity of our Great High Priest.

2. The propitiation of our Great High Priest (16:15)
   Propitiation means to appease. The ark was the place where propitiation was made. The wrath of God was appeased by the blood of the sinless Lamb (Romans 3:24-25). The atonement of Christ satisfied God. We must preach the sacred truth of propitiation by the blood of Christ.

3. The pardon from our Great High Priest (16:21-22)
   After the blood was shed, Aaron had one more special task which was tied to the scapegoat. Aaron put his hand on the head of the goat. The goat bore all the iniquities of the people and then went away into the wilderness. It showed that the sins of God's people had indeed been dealt with and put away forever.

4. The presentation by the Great High Priest (16:23)
   The high priest changed his clothes after the atonement. Here we see a view of the exaltation of Christ after his atonement. He now reigns exalted in glory in His glorified humanity and his eternally glorified deity.

Let us hold fast to our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14)