“In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the Lord, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.”
Leviticus 6:7 New International Version

“I didn’t know it would break!”

My son and I like to reminisce about how often he said that when he was younger. I’d find a broken coffee mug or a chipped lamp. When asked how the item broke, more often than not that would be his response.

When the breakage was minor, I could find a new purpose for the item. This creamer, for example, is now a pencil cup.

On one occasion, the broken item was a favorite coffee mug, and I was sad that I could no longer enjoy using it. A couple of weeks later, my son surprised me with a new coffee mug that he’d saved his allowance to purchase. He’d wished to atone for the transgression.

The book of Leviticus contains prescriptions for seeking forgiveness from God by atonement. There are instructions about when to present an animal or a grain, along with how each is to be processed for God. It was important to get all of the steps right.

Jesus became the sacrifice for our sins, and by his death and resurrection we are made right with God. By believing in Jesus and the power of the Cross, we are made right with God and are forgiven.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 New International Version

Atonement seems simple, especially when compared to the detailed ritual of sacrifices. Forgiveness is not something to be earned by killing animals or baking bread. It is the free gift from God through Jesus, and that is something to rejoice about!

We can take the atonement from the Cross to seek reconciliation with those around us. Even if mutual forgiveness is not possible, forgiving others for hurting us can bring peace to our days.

“We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19 New International Version

My son sought reconciliation with a new coffee mug. He was forgiven, anyway.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado