Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16:1-18:30)
Shabbat haGadol The Great Shabbat  

  Tonight begins the celebration of Passover, the remembrance of the exodus of the Jewish people out of the land of Egypt . Traditionally, the Shabbat prior to Passover is called Shabbat haGadol.  It commemorates the day when the Israelites chose a lamb for the Passover sacrifice. It signals the time when we are to be prepared for the celebration of Passover. The name is derived from the special haftorah portion for the day, Malachi 3:4-24(MT) 3:4-4:6.  After speaking about his concern for covenant faithfulness on the part of the Israelites, Malachi warns the people that the day of judgment is coming and that Elijah would come first to rescue the remnant of Israel from destruction. That day is called Yom Adonai Hagadol v’hanora which means “great and awesome day of the Lord”.  On the Shabbat prior to Passover, Shabbat HaGadol,  we are reminded that a day of judgment is coming but the good news is that Elijah will come and announce that the Messiah is immanent. Every year at the Seder, we leave one seat empty for Elijah to come and announce the appearance of the Messiah.  The question for the day is are we prepared for the judgment of God?  Are we prepared for Elijah’s announcement? Amos, another one of Israel ’s prophets says “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.” (Amos 5:8)   In other words, we each must be spiritually prepared for the day of judgment.  Shabbat HaGadol serves as a reminder not only to prepare for the celebration of Passover but also to be spiritually prepared  for the coming of Elijah and the Messiah. Just as the Israelites were called to be prepared for the judgement on the land of Egypt by choosing a lamb, so we need to be prepared for the judgment of God by “choosing” a lamb; by believing in the Messiah, the Lamb of God. 

     It is both ironic and appropriate that this week’s Torah portion includes Leviticus 16-18. It is ironic because on Shabbat HaGadol we are reading  the passage that describes the role of the priest in offering the sacrifices for a different holy day,  the Day of Atonement! It is appropriate because it conveys the fact that man cannot approach God all by himself - that spiritual preparation is essential for having a relationship with God. We must have a mediator. The High Priest served that role by first cleansing himself and then offering an animal sacrifice on behalf of all of the Jewish people. The blood of the animal would be sprinkled on the mercy seat, making atonement for the sins of the nation (16:14). The High Priest would lay his hands on a second animal symbolically transferring the sins of the people to the goat which would then be led out to the wilderness to die (16:21). As a result we have the picture of both the atonement for sins and the removal of sins. In chapter 17:11 of Leviticus we are told that 'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.'    The context is that we are forbidden to eat blood because of its role in making atonement for sin.  Certainly this ties the Day of Atonement to Passover. The central feature of the Day of Atonement is the shedding of blood and the central feature of the Passover event is the blood of the lamb being placed on the doorframe. Exodus 12:13 says The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.  The blood of the lamb was the necessary preparation in order to escape the judgment that God was bringing upon the land of Egypt . Without the blood, the firstborn of every Jewish family would die along with the firstborn of every Egyptian family. God was not looking to see who was Jewish and who was Egyptian - He was looking to see who put the blood on the door frame.  If an Egyptian had been obedient and believed Moses, he could have sacrificed a lamb and placed its blood on the door frame and spared his first born as well.  Therefore Passover reminds us that we need to be prepared for the judgment that God will bring on this world. We need Messiah Yeshua! He came as the fulfillment of the sacrificial system. (Hebrews 9:15-26) His death made atonement for our sins. His resurrection assures us that atonement has been made. When we believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, our sins are forgiven and removed - just like on the Day of Atonement. In addition, we are spared of the wrath of God that is to come - just like the Passover offering. 

   As we prepare for the Seder, may we learn from this week’s Torah portion that we need the blood of the lamb to have the assurance of God’s protection. The New Covenant says that John the Immerser (Baptist) is a type of Elijah and that Yeshua is the Messiah who came to cleanse us from our sins once and for all. He did this by dying for our sins and being raised from the dead. When we trust in Him we have the cleansing and are prepared to stand before God.  Have you settled the question of your sins? Yeshua came to clean us and prepare us. I encourage you to settle the question…   for who knows who will be on the other side of the door tonight?…     Shabbat Shalom!