The key words in this lesson are mercy, forgiveness and atonement. There is also a significant illustration using the color red. Unfortunately, the rich Jewish tradition of mercy, forgiveness and atonement has lost the identity of the Atoner, yet in the last days, the symbolism of time, places, events and color will identify the sinless One who said, "Not my will, but thine, be done."

"Mercy and forgiveness, says the Talmud, are distinguishing characteristics of Abraham and his seed, and these characteristics motivated God to choose Israel as His people." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

One of the most important holidays in Judaism is Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement. Fasting, special prayers and the reading of the Book of Jonah establish a symbol that will eventually be used to recognize the Atoner. A further discussion of the subject of Jonah will follow in Lesson # 27, "He Is Not Here, for He Is Risen." The sign of the prophet Jonah was and is still not recognized by many, neither were or are the connections to the way temple sacrifices were carried out to the ultimate sacrifice made on Mount Moriah and the Mount of Olives. For example, a special sacrifice of a goat, tied with a red ribbon, was performed in the temple in similitude of the Holy One taking our sins upon Himself. That is symbolically tied to the color red. One offering at Yom Kippur was a goat escaping the temple confines through the Gate Beautiful with the sins of the people and tied with a red ribbon. It died on its own" outside the temple. The "Gate Beautiful" is also known by the names "The Gate of Mercy" and "The Gate of Forgiveness."

"In the times of the Temple in Jerusalem, the ritual performed by the high priest was the central feature of the Day of Atonement. The high priest, representative of the people, carried out the special service known as avodah. He took two identical goats and cast lots to see which would be sacrificed and which would be sent to Azazel. After sacrificing one of them, he sprinkled its blood on the altar and then confessed the sins of the people while placing his hands on the head of the live goat." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) "How do we know that a crimson-coloured strap is tied to the head of the goat that is sent [to ‘Azaz'el]? because it is said, if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." (Talmud, Shabbath 86a)

Another symbolic sacrifice was that of the red calf as mentioned in the scriptures. It was to be brought outside the temple and sacrificed and its ashes kept for a separate washing for a purification of sins.

"This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke . . . bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her . . . and one shall burn the heifer . . . her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung . . . And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin." (Numbers 19:1-9) ". . . Red heifer - the animal whose ashes were used in the ritual purification ceremony . . . In biblical times, the heifer was first slaughtered outside the Israelite camp and then burned." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) "The Bible is very specific about the kind of cow to be used. It had to be in perfect physical condition -- "a red heifer, faultless, containing no blemish and which has never been yoked." The rabbis interpreted "faultless" to mean perfect in color also, ruling that even two non-red hairs in its hide were enough to disqualify it. Obviously such an animal was very rare and apparently the ceremony was performed only a very few times in all of ancient Jewish history." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

According to Dr. Asher Kaufman in Israel, an important connection with the red heifer is the tradition that it was offered high on the Mount of Olives, in line with the Gate Beautiful and still be in line with the north end of the temple’s altar. The most significant offering in eternity started with the "red" offering of the Sinless One on the Mount of Olives in spring. Astonished at the suffering He was experiencing as he was taking all the sins upon himself, he cried out, "not my will, but thine, be done." Be bled from every pore in his body. His clothing must have been stained red.

"Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink– Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men." (Doctrine and Covenants 19:18-19) ". . . I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me; And I have trampled them in my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have I sprinkled upon my garments, and stained all my raiment . . ." (Doctrine and Covenants 133:50-51)

The lilies of the field that the Savior referred to are scarlet red. They bloom in the spring. They cover the Mount of Olives. They testify of Him.  

                                    Lilies of Red
                                    Daniel Rona,  1996

             The season bursts forth in radiance,
               painting the landscape in shades of green.
                  Flowers add their rythymn in cadence,
                     splashing color to brighten the scene.
        
                       Most precious are the lilies of red.
                        They spin not, they toil not, yet in their way,
                        they teach of the color of Him who bled,
                       on Gethsemane’s most fateful day.
                
                     His glory is to lighten our load.
                  He heals us with joy and harmony .                
               A landscape of love for young and old,
            His radiance opened eternity.
                        
                                      Chorus:

            Lilies of red, they testified
              of Him who bled and died,
                 Lilies of red, witness they give
                 He died so we could live.
              He lives, he’s risen from the dead
            praise God for Lilies of red.

The next lessons carry us through the first night of Passover, bringing us in recollection of the symbols of sacrifices, the appointed days, established hours that were pre set to commemorate the eternal atonement that the Father planned for us. That unequivocal atonement prompts us to redirect the same blessings on all others.

"The exercise of mercy is an obligation for all Jews. By this it is meant that they must act with compassion and forgiveness towards all mankind, and perform deeds of charity and kindness. This quality is an essential characteristic of God who is known as Rahum ("Merciful") and, in accordance with the tradition which sets as man's goal the imitation of God: "As He is me rciful, so be you merciful." Just as God is bound by His covenant of mercy with His people, so is the Jew bound by specific commandments to act mercifully to the oppressed, the alien, the orphan, the widow, and indeed, every living creature." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother: (Zechariah 7:9)  

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14) We serve the Living God by serving each other. That is the way to thank him for His first born son who said, "Not my will, but thine, be done."