28 March 2022
By Rev Kenneth Mtata
Today’s readings
• Psalm 53;
• Leviticus 23:26-41;
• Revelation 19:1-8
Verses of the day
"God looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God…O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad (Psalm 53:2 & 6)
The day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, in Hebrew, is a Jewish holy day set aside by the Jewish people to seek forgiveness of their sins so that they could find their reconciliation with God. On this day, they gave special remembrance to a God who rescued them from the slave labour in Egypt and gave them rest. Hence they call this celebration the Sabbath of Sabbaths or rest upon rest. The high priest would presents their sins in the holy of holies while a chain was tied on his leg in case he would be struck dead by God if he himself was not clean before God. It was a frightening experience of Gid as one who hates sin, yet was willing to forgive. The day of atonement was when the Jewish people remembered what appears like a contradiction in Psalm 53:2 and 6 when it says: God looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God…O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad (Psalm 53 :2 & 6).
The idea of atonement was embraced by Christianity as something accomplished by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. By his blood Jesus entered the holy place and faced the danger of the anger of God on our behalf. In this process we we're totally cleansed as God’s people from their total uncleanliness and stronghold of sin. On the cross, sin in all its forms was taken care of. Sin in its totality manifesting in its final form as death, was overcome through resurrection.
Therefore, those who are in Christ, the totality of sin is encountered by the totality of God’s grace so that it is neutralised and its poison rendered powerless. What does this mean?
It means that this already took place on that day when Jesus was on the cross crying, “it is finished!” This event that took place in history had a historic impact in the lives of real people. People who were completely evil to the point of denying God, came to believe and had their lives changed.
One of the greatest evidences of the power or efficacy Christ's atonement is the transformation of real people, real families, and real communities to become a people of love, peace, and justice. Without real transformation of lives of large numbers of people, Christianity would not have survived. It survived because it proved to work in changing people’s lives. People who were timid because courageous. People who despised themselves and others became humble but firm. People who lived reckless lives became responsible and orderly. People who were full of hatred and jealous become loving, caring and forgiving. This evidence of atonement in the real lives of people remains the power of Christian testimony. The greatest Christian witness even today, is not how loud or eloquent they speak about Jesus. It is a demonstration of power of the Spirit of God in changing lives of people after their reconciliation with God through Christ Jesus.
Prayer
God I pray this Lent that you demonstrate through me the power of transformation through your atonement in Jesus Christ. Let those who used to know me for my temper get surprised how patient I have become. Let those who knew my anxieties, recognize how peaceful I have become in you. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN
Prayer
Dear God, many of our people are currently struggling. Some of them are also losing their faith as a result. We pray for deeper growth to accompany current challenges. Just as you, our Lord, thrived in your suffering leading to the resurrection; turn our struggles into food for renewal and growth. Amen
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