Jesus, Our Peace and High Priest

Today is Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. It is considered the holiest day of the Jewish calendar—a time to be cleansed and receive forgiveness for the previous year’s sins.

Leviticus 16 describes Aaron’s work as the High Priest on Yom Kippur. God tells Aaron to enter the Holy of Holies. Once inside, he is commanded to offer sacrifices of bulls, rams, and goats. This atonement not only covered his sin, but all of Israel’s. Every year the High Priest would repeat this custom so the Israelites could remain in right standing with God—and in doing so find peace.

Yom Kippur was God’s way of making peace with His people year after year. In Christ, that peace is lasting—and one morning, as I sat in my chair before the morning light came through the window, I heard Him speak it to me deep in my spirit,

“Be at peace.”

In Hebrew, Shalom is translated as “peace.”

“Be at shalom.”

This was not counsel that I thought would improve an ongoing conflict with a close relationship. However, when I chose to ‘be at peace,’ that relationship changed for the better!

Shalom’s state of wholeness, completeness, and well-being pervades every part of us—spirit, soul, and body. On the other hand, the lack of peace affects our health, souls, and relationships.

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. (Ephesians 4:3 NLT)

The peace that came to me and to that relationship is what God’s people, the Israelites were offered on Yom Kippur. They were commanded to honor that day as a complete day of rest and reconciliation with Him. This permanent law made them right with the Lord once each year.

Aaron and the Israelites sought this shalom through sacrificing animals to God every year on Yom Kippur. But the author of Hebrews tells us, it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). The High Priest had to enter the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies) year after year to offer sacrifice for atonement—but even this was not enough for each day’s guilt from sin.

But there is good news! The author of Hebrews goes on to tell us:

Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. … With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. (Hebrews. 9:11-12)

Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus the Prince of Peace. We could also say he is the Prince of Shalom. He is the bond of peace inside of me, for my spirit, soul, and body. He is the perfect sacrifice who atoned for my sins, once and for all. He is also the bond that connects me to other believers.

True peace is a gift from Jesus. Years ago, the moment when I cried out “Amen!” to His sacrifice on the cross, His peace flooded my being.

Yom Kippur is a solemn day of repentance and reflection, yet also a joyous day because the promise of forgiveness and freedom from guilt brings a deep sense of peace, hope, and joy! This is exactly what Jesus offers us—not just on Yom Kippur—but every day.

Have you met Jesus as your Prince of Peace, the Great High Priest? He can be the peace that pours over you as you seek Him every day.

Thanks to His perfect sacrifice, we can be at peace with God and those around us—our only task is to rest in Him.

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.