The Significance of Yom Kippur and Sukkot

  

by Barbara Latta

Yom Kippur, the Jewish observance of the Day of Atonement, began this week on the eve of October 4 and ended at sunset on October 5. On the Jewish calendar this is the 10^th of Tishrei.

Yom Kippur began at the time the Israelites were in the wilderness. Moses traversed Mount Sinai and heard God’s voice with instructions He inscribed onto stone. When Moses delayed his return to the camp, the Hebrews formed and worshipped a golden calf. They forsook the God who delivered them from the bondage of Egypt and fell into the idol worship of their enslavers.

When Moses descended to the bottom of the mount, he saw the actions of the sinful crowd. His anger drove him to break the stone tablets and he destroyed the golden idol along with all those who wouldn’t return to the Lord. The next day he climbed Mount Sinai again to pray for atonement for the people who still lived (Exodus 32:30). This is the day Yom Kippur recognizes—the day their sins were forgiven.

Five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is celebrated which falls this year on October 9 – 16. For seven days, Jews celebrate the Lord’s provision through the bounty of harvest. Sukkot is also referred to as Feast of Tabernacles to commemorate the Israelites dwelling in tents and the protection of the cloud covering them in the desert.  

Modern day Jewish people build temporary outside shelters covered in some type of natural products such as palm leaves, pine boughs, or bamboo to remember the dwellings of their ancestors in the wilderness. These celebrations last seven days and involve feasts of various foods and the reciting of Psalms of praise.

What do the meaning of these two observances reflect for Christians?

We already learned about the reason for Rosh HaShanah through a post on September 23.

While we as Gentile Christians do not participate in the observances of these days the way Jewish people do, we can still see the reflection of their meanings to us.

In the wilderness tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem, animals were sacrificed to pay for the people’s sins. Once a year, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies and sprinkled blood on the Ark of the Covenant (which later was captured by their enemies). This blood signified they were atoned for, but they had to repeat this offering year after year.

But when Jesus came and offered Himself upon the altar of God’s judgment, He atoned for our sins forever.

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4 NKJV)

The work of the high priests in the Old Testament never ended. They worked continuously. Jesus’ sacrifice was so perfect, He only needed to shed His blood one time and His offering covered all sin. But each person must accept what He did into their own life to receive this forgiveness.

When Christ returned to His Father He sat down at the right hand of God. No more sacrifices were needed because His work was finished (John 19:30).

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:11-14)

Yom Kippur reminds us of the sacrifice of the one perfect Lamb of God who takes away our sin forever.

For more information about Sukkot and the Day of Atonement, listen to this YouTube message from Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. You will be amazed at the revelation of biblical connections these festivals have to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

What do these Jewish observances mean to your life? Share your thoughts.

How does the true meaning of Yom Kippur and Sukkot reflect Christ? (click to tweet)