Five Complete Immersions
Let’s turn our bibles to Leviticus 16. This chapter details the Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement ceremony. The word for atonement in Hebrew is kapar, and it is mentioned 16 times in just this one chapter. Ultimately, this is the aim of Yom Kippur; it is the day when one may see God’s atonement in the ultimate sacrifice, Yeshua.
Let’s see how the chapter begins: It does so in a most dramatic way advocating the need for the Messiah: Verse 1 reads: The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they had approached the presence of the LORD and died.
The passage begins by referring to the death of two priests, a death mentioned two times in this one short verse. If this important chapter about atonement begins with the death of two mediators between man and God, the reader is already moved to look elsewhere for another more effective mediator. Man cannot save himself nor can he save another.
The exposure of the heart of these two priests shows us the level of holiness and accountability required before God when serving Him. This then forces us to look at the requirements and responsibilities of the one higher up, the High Priest himself.
This man was the one person in Israel who represented the entire nation before God. The High Priest’s position was the most supreme of all religious positions in the Bible.
He was responsible for the people in such a way that if he sinned, the consequences of his actions would fall on the whole nation.
What a high status he held, yet even he was restricted in how he was to come into the presence of God. See how verse two directly addresses him: The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die.
Even the High Priest could not approach God in just any way he thought was appropriate, nor at any time it was convenient for him. It was only on Yom Kippur, once a year, when he alone, accompanied by many restrictive regulations, was given the command to enter the Holy of Holies. This area was behind the curtain, past the Holy Place, in the Holiest Place where the Ark of the Covenant stood, representing God’s presence.
What then is the message so far? If it was so complicated for the High Priest to approach God, then how much more difficult would it be for any of us? If no other Israelite, except the High Priest could enter the presence of God and only on one specific day of the year, and under the watch of many stern regulations, how could anyone else have even the slightest chance of meeting God? If the High Priest was perfect, then we would not need to worry about consequences because of his sin or mistakes he might make during the whole service process. But he is not perfect, which then begs for a better and more superior mediator.
First, let us see how in history, this chapter was taken so seriously. For instance, in the Talmud, the holy book of rabbinical Judaism, they consecrated a full book with laws for Yom Kippur. It is called the Book of Yoma, meaning the book of the day in Aramaic.
There it says that seven days before Yom Kippur, they moved the High Priest to a special apartment in the Temple to rehearse, over and over, all the required actions during this day. They were afraid that he would get struck dead as did Aaron’s two sons back in Leviticus chapter 10.
And on the night before the eve of Yom Kippur, they kept him awake all night long, fearing he could be defiled, perhaps even by some dreams. So, to avoid the High Priest from dozing off, they wrote, The other priests would keep him awake by snapping their fingers, but avoiding any contact with him, and if he could not keep his eyes opened, they made him walk on the cold pavement of the Temple courtyard. M. Yoma 1;1-7.
Tired or not, he needed to be ready for the day of Yom Kippur itself, for on this day, the High Priest had to undergo five changes of clothing along with five complete immersions, and ten acts of washing of the hands and feet. He had to enter the Holy of Holies 3 times during this day and every time it required a whole ceremony.
And these changes of clothes and washings had to be done both solemnly and quickly for the day was filled with other sacrifices and ceremonies as well. It must have been the most exhausting day of the year for the priests.
This begs the question as to why the High Priest would need to change his clothes five times during the day of Yom Kippur. Here we are given a strong hint as to the manner in which we must approach God.
On Yom Kippur the High Priest had two garments. First, we see the gold garment, eight pieces, four of which contained gold. This is how he appeared to the people. But then when he appeared in front of God’s footstool, the Ark of the Covenant, he wore the other simpler white garment, consisting of four pieces. By ordering the change from the rich garment made of gold, rare gems and costly fabrics, to a simple linen cloth, it showed the humility and lowliness he was called to wear, when approaching God.
The first thing we see here is that when one comes to God, it should be done stripped of all pretenses, pride or arrogance; this is what is at the core of effective prayers and repentance. This is Yom Kippur.
Furthermore, we read of a verse which still surprises many commentators: It is in Leviticus 15:23, Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there.
So, at the end of Yom Kippur, the High Priest left his clothes in the Tabernacle and then came out to wear the lavish garment instead. Why did he leave the linen tunic in the Holy Place? Nahmanides, the well know rabbinical commentator wrote on this verse: This verse does indeed demand “Explain me.” (Nahmanedes \ Carasik, Lev. 16:23).
How can we explain this?
This verse reminds us of who the Messiah is. It brings to mind the work of the earthly High Priest. He went into the Holy of Holies to complete the work of atonement and then came out to the congregation dressed in the “golden” clothes, showing the act of atonement had been completed. In the same way, Yeshua left the tomb after having completed the work, resurrected and then went to sit at the right hand of the Father. His atoning work too was completed. Beautiful symbolism for the fulfillment of Yom Kippur.