Yom Kippur (or the “Day of Atonement”) was the only time when the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and call upon the Name of YHVH (i.e., יהוה) to offer blood sacrifice for the sins of the people. This “life for a life” principle is the foundation of the sacrificial system and marked the great day of intercession made on behalf of God’s people.
For this reason Yom Kippur was also called the “Day of God’s Mercy,” or the “Day of God’s Name (יום השם). This alludes to the revelation of the attributes of God’s Compassion after the sin of the Golden Calf (see Exod. 34:6-7) — a disclosure that foreshadowed the New Covenant.
How much more, then, should Yom Kippur be esteemed as the “Day of Yeshua’s Name” (יום ישוע) since He secured for all of humanity everlasting kapparah (atonement)? Yeshua the Messiah is “Moshia ha’olam” (מוֹשִׁיעַ הָעוֹלָם), the Savior of the world; He alone possesses the “Name above all other Names” (Phil. 2:9-10; Acts 4:12).
It is altogether fitting, then, that God’s “hidden Name” (i.e., shem ha-meforash: שֵׁם הַמְּפרָשׁ) was proclaimed before the cover of the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies while atonement for our sins was made through the sacrificial blood….
This gives us a whole new perspective on Paul’s words (Rom. 10:9): “if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is LORD (יהוה) and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (i.e., that his blood was shed and presented on your behalf upon the heavenly kapporet), then you will be saved (that is, you will be reconciled to God and made a partaker of the atoning work of Yeshua).
Surely the Apostle Paul, a zealous rabbi who diligently studied Torah in Jerusalem under Rabbi Gamaliel (who was himself the grandson of the renowned Rabbi Hillel the Elder), understood the theological implications when he stated that the prophecy: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD (בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה) shall be saved” (Joel 2:32) referred directly to Yeshua (Rom. 10:10).
- Joel 2:32a Hebrew page (pdf)
For more about Yom Kippur, see:
https://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/Yom_Kippur/yom_kippur.html
In the Gates of Repentance it is written: ”I hereby forgive all who have hurt me, all who have wronged me, whether deliberately or inadvertently, whether by word or by deed. May no one be punished on my account. And as I forgive and pardon those who have wronged me, may those whom I have harmed forgive me, whether I acted deliberately or inadvertently, whether by word or by deed.” Amen…
In this “Shavuah Tov” audio broadcast I discuss both the Jewish High Holidays — and how they relate to us as followers of Yeshua the Messiah — as well as the weekly Torah portion we will read for Shabbat Shuvah, namely parashat Vayeilech. I hope you will find it helpful. L’Shanah Tovah u’Metukah b’Yeshua Meshicheinu, chaverim! – “to a good and sweet year in our Messiah Yeshua, friends.”
From our Torah (
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Yeshua repeatedly took the role of a “stumbling block” to test people’s response to his ministry and message. Most people were offended at Him, of course, and in the end Yeshua was crucified for the sake of their offenses. After His death, the cross itself became the scandal of faith. The Apostle Paul referred to the “offense of the cross” which he did not want removed. But what is the “offense of the cross” and why is the proclamation of the crucified Messiah a scandal (σκάνδαλον) to Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles?
In this audio podcast I discuss the the 40 day “Season of Teshuvah” or repentance leading up to the 
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In this audio podcast I discuss the the 
Our Torah portion this week (i.e., 
