Getting Started

You’ve had a chance to get oriented to the sacrificial system in the last lesson. Does it all seem a bit strange in comparison to worship in our churches? It’s certainly different! But is there something at the center of both that might be the same after all?

There are a couple of fascinating sacrifices still to investigate, at least one of which you may not know much about. You’ve probably heard of Yom Kippur, the Hebrew name for the Day of Atonement. It is, even to this day, the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. The second is the offering of a Red Heifer. This is more mysterious and, as a Temple sacrifice, is not practiced today. People still speculate on its meaning.  

Before we finish this lesson we’ll understand these rituals better and deepen our appreciation for the importance of both blood and incense. And we’ll look for that common essence that defines worship for all time.

So, let’s get started …