Midweek Echo
Midweek Echo is a simple reminder of Sunday’s message—something to help you recall what you heard, reflect on what it means, and live it out through the week. It’s a way to stay rooted in God’s Word, remembering that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17 NIV).
The Day of Atonement
Lev. 16:15-16, 20-22, 34; Heb. 9:11-12, 22
Leviticus can feel strange at first, especially when there is so much blood. Most of us do not like the sight of blood. A friend of mine once cut her finger on a cheese cutter. It was only a small cut, yet she later woke up on the kitchen floor after passing out. Blood has a way of getting our attention. It signals that something is wrong, that life has been interrupted.
That helps us understand why blood matters so much in Leviticus. In the Bible, blood is not there for shock value. The Bible does not shy away from the hard realities of life in a fallen world. Blood is central because life is in the blood, and sin is not a small matter. Sin is a life-and-death problem. As Leviticus 17:11 says, “the life of a creature is in the blood,” and God says, “I have given it to you… to make atonement.” That little phrase matters: “I have given it to you.” Atonement begins not with human invention, but with divine mercy. God himself provides the way for sinners to be cleansed and brought near.
This becomes especially clear in Leviticus 16 on the Day of Atonement. Once each year, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of the people. One goat was sacrificed, and its blood was used to cleanse the sanctuary from the defilement of sin. Another goat, the scapegoat, had the sins of the people confessed over it and was sent away into the wilderness, picturing sin carried away from the camp. Forgiveness required cleansing, removal, and God’s gracious provision.
For Christians, all of this points to Jesus. He is our great High Priest, our perfect sacrifice, and the one who bears our sins away once for all. In Christ, God does not merely cover sin for a moment. He deals with it. He forgives, cleanses, and removes it, opening the way for us to draw near with confidence.
Prayer: Amighty God, thank you for bearing my sin, cleansing my heart, and bringing me near to you; help me live today in the freedom, humility, and assurance of your finished work.
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- Pastor Steve Johnson, March 25, 2026