Atonement, Love, and Holiness Converge

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before Yahweh, and died; 2. and Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother, not to come at all times into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat. 3. “Aaron shall come into the sanctuary with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4. He shall put on the holy linen coat. He shall have the linen breeches on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and he shall be clothed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on. 5. He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6. “Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. 7. He shall take the two goats, and set them before Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 8. Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats; one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9. Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer him for a sin offering. 10. But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness. 11. “Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. 12. He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil: 13. and he shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the testimony, so that he will not die. 14. He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. 15. “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat. 16. He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent of Meeting, that dwells with them in the middle of their uncleanness. 17. No one shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. 18. “He shall go out to the altar that is before Yahweh and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the bull’s blood, and some of the goat’s blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar. 19. He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 20. “When he has finished atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. 22. The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. 23. “Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall take off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. 24. Then he shall bathe himself in water in a holy place, and put on his garments, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people. 25. The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar. 26. “He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 27. The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp; and they shall burn their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire. 28. He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 29. “It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, the native-born, or the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you: 30. for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before Yahweh. 31. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. 32. The priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33. Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34. “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” It was done as Yahweh commanded Moses. 1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2. “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded, 3. Whatever man there is of the house of Israel, who kills a bull, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, 4. and hasn’t brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to offer it as an offering to Yahweh before Yahweh’s tabernacle: blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people. 5. This is to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to Yahweh, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to Yahweh. 6. The priest shall sprinkle the blood on Yahweh’s altar at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. 7. They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.’ 8. “You shall say to them, ‘Any man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9. and doesn’t bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to sacrifice it to Yahweh; that man shall be cut off from his people. 10. “‘Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11. 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 that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12. Therefore I have said to the children of Israel, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who lives as a foreigner among you eat blood.” 13. “‘Whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour out its blood, and cover it with dust. 14. For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life: therefore I said to the children of Israel, “You shall not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.” 15. “‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening: then he shall be clean. 16. But if he doesn’t wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.’” 1. Yahweh said to Moses, 2. “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘I am Yahweh your God. 3. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived: and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes. 4. You shall do my ordinances, and you shall keep my statutes, and walk in them: I am Yahweh your God. 5. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances; which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am Yahweh. 6. “‘None of you shall approach any close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh. 7. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness. 8. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife. It is your father’s nakedness. 9. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home, or born abroad. 10. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter, or of your daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness: for theirs is your own nakedness. 11. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister. 12. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister: she is your father’s near kinswoman. 13. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister: for she is your mother’s near kinswoman. 14. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother, you shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt. 15. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness. 16. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness. 17. “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is wickedness. 18. “‘You shall not take a wife in addition to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is still alive. 19. “‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness. 20. “‘You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her. 21. “‘You shall not give any of your children as a sacrifice to Molech. You shall not profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh. 22. “‘You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is detestable. 23. “‘You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. No woman may give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion. 24. “‘Don’t defile yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled. 25. The land was defiled: therefore I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out her inhabitants. 26. You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-born, nor the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you; 27. (for the men of the land that were before you had done all these abominations, and the land became defiled); 28. that the land not vomit you out also, when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. 29. “‘For whoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people. 30. Therefore you shall keep my requirements, that you do not practice any of these abominable customs, which were practiced before you, and that you do not defile yourselves with them. I am Yahweh your God.’”

1. So Pilate then took Jesus, and flogged him. 2. The soldiers twisted thorns into a crown, and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple garment. 3. They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him. 4. Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5. Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!” 6. When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7. The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” 8. When therefore Pilate heard this saying, he was more afraid. 9. He entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10. Pilate therefore said to him, “Aren’t you speaking to me? Don’t you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?” 11. Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.” 12. At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!” 13. When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Pavement”, but in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.” 14. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, at about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15. They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” 16. So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away. 17. He went out, bearing his cross, to the place called “The Place of a Skull”, which is called in Hebrew, “Golgotha”, 18. where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle. 19. Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. There was written, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20. Therefore many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 21. The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘he said, “I am King of the Jews.”’” 22. Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” 23. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24. Then they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to decide whose it will be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, “They parted my garments among them. For my cloak they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things. 25. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26. Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27. Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home. 28. After this, Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.” 29. Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop, and held it at his mouth. 30. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. 31. Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32. Therefore the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with him; 33. but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs. 34. However one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35. He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe. 36. For these things happened, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone of him will not be broken.” 37. Again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they pierced.” 38. After these things, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body. 39. Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds. 40. So they took Jesus’ body, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden. In the garden was a new tomb in which no man had ever yet been laid. 42. Then because of the Jews’ Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand) they laid Jesus there. 1. Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. 2. Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!” 3. Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. 4. They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first. 5. Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in. 6. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying, 7. and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8. So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. 9. For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. 11. But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb, 12. and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13. They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.” 14. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus. 15. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16. Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!” 17. Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her. 19. When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 20. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21. Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22. When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.” 24. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26. After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27. Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” 28. Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29. Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.” 30. Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; 31. but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. 1. After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. 2. Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3. Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. 4. But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. 5. Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” 6. He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish. 7. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea. 8. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish. 9. So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn. 12. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13. Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14. This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead. 15. So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16. He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17. He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18. Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19. Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” 20. Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” 21. Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22. Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” 23. This saying therefore went out among the brothers, that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?” 24. This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true. 25. There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.

1. In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Let me never be disappointed. Deliver me in your righteousness. 2. Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me. 3. For you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me. 4. Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for you are my stronghold. 5. Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth. 6. I hate those who regard lying vanities, but I trust in Yahweh. 7. I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities. 8. You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place. 9. Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief. 10. For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away. 11. Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, A fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me. 12. I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery. 13. For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life. 14. But I trust in you, Yahweh. I said, “You are my God.” 15. My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. 16. Make your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your loving kindness. 17. Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol. 18. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt. 19. Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men! 20. In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues. 21. Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city. 22. As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you. 23. Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints! Yahweh preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly. 24. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in Yahweh.