The holiest day on the Jewish calendar begins at sundown Friday. Jesus Himself observed this day, the Day of Atonement, which points to the Atonement that He would bring. It concludes the Ten Days of Awe, or self-examination, which began at Rosh Hashanah. During this time we are to ask forgiveness for ways in which we have sinned against others.
On Yom Kippur, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies and saw the Shekinah (the manifest presence of the Lord) over the Mercy Seat. The sins of the people were put onto a scapegoat, that was led to its death in the wilderness. A bull was then offered for atonement.
"For the Christian, Yom Kippur should be a day of great celebration, a day when we remember that Christ died for us... It should remind us that salvation is by grace, received by faith, and that even faith is a 'gift of God' (Eph. 2:8-9). We need not worry that our bad deeds may outweigh the good in God's balance scales of judgment. Our salvation rests securely upon God Himself. What freedom and joy we experience, and how gracious He is to save us from sin!
"Believers who trust in the blood of Christ experience God's presence more than any high priest ever did. The ancient high priest could enter God's presence on one day each year, and then only with fear and trembling. Yet those of us who know Jesus can boldly enter His heavenly throne room and step into the glorious presence of God."
--The Fall Feasts of Israel, by Mitch and Zhava Glaser
For additional information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur
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