"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.)
Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement: 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 symbols that will eventually be used to
recognize the Atoner. A further discussion of the subject of Jonah will follow
in Lesson # 27. The sign of the prophet Jonah (three days and nights) was not
and is still not recognized by many, neither were nor are the connections
between the way temple sacrifices were carried out and the ultimate sacrifice
made on Mount Moriah and the Mount of Olives.
Goat tied with a Red Ribbon:
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. One offering at Yom Kippur was a goat, tied with a red ribbon. It was
helped to escape the temple confines through the Gate Beautiful with the sins of
the people. It had to die 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)
A Rare Sacrifice of an
Absolutely Red Haired Calf:
Another symbolic sacrifice was that of the red calf as mentioned in the
scriptures. It was to be brought outside the temple, 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 . . . bring thee a red heifer
without spot . . . no blemish . . . bring her forth without the camp (Temple),
and one shall slay her . . . and one shall burn the heifer . . . And a man that
is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the
camp (Temple) 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) "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 . . ." 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 Jewish tradition that it was offered high on the
Mount of Olives, east of the Gate Beautiful and in line with the north end of
the temple’s altar.
Gethsemane, on the Mount of
Olives is a "Wine Press" – Red Stained Clothes:
The most significant offering in eternity started with the "red"
offering of the Sinless One on the Mount of Olives in spring of that year, it
was the preparation day preceding Passover. 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." He bled from every pore in his body. His
clothing must have been stained red. Isaiah’s prophetic statement:
"Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that
treadeth in the winefat?" (Gethsemane is transliterated from the Hebrew
word for winepress/winevat.)
I have trodden the winepress
alone . . . their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain
all my raiment." (Isaiah 63:2-3) "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)
The "Lilies of the
Field" Are Scarlet Red:
Kings of Israel were instructed to dress simply in red clothes (very expensive
dye). Over the years the red garments of royalty have become a "purple
color," yet, originally they were deep blood red, just like the Lilies of
the Field ( Luke 12:27). These lilies bloom in the spring – at Passover. They
cover the Mount of Olives like droplets of blood. They testify of Him. The
following verses came to my mind sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Lilies of Red
The
season bursts forth in radiance,
painting
the landscape in shades of green.
Flowers add their rhythm 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.
Memories Remind us of Mercy:
The next few lessons carry us through the first night of Passover two thousand
years ago. There are remembrances of the symbols of sacrifices, the appointed
days, and established hours that were pre-set to commemorate the eternal
atonement that the Father planned for us. That unequivocal merciful atonement
prompts us to share the same blessings on all others. It is an exercise of
mercy. "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 merciful, 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)
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." |