Atonement: What is it?

Last night at the British Academy of Film Awards, the movie “Atonement” won most of the categories. I haven’t seen it yet, but it looks like an epic, similar to the masterpieces that David Lean used to direct decades ago. It covers a span of sixty years to include both World Wars and the plot involves a scandalous lie that affects the lives and love of two young people. It will be interesting to see if the movie wins any Oscars. If it’s as good as the critics say it is, I suspect it will.

Bible Verse of the Day

Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Atonement is not a word that we use very often these days. In the past, it meant the ministry work that priests did to placate God for all of the sins and offenses that the community made against Him. Usually, it involved long liturgical prayer gatherings and ended with an animal sacrifice. Absolution was only given when the priests believed that the rituals were properly performed, and the sacrifice was perfectly made.

These days, we don’t make prolonged rituals of confession or slaughter innocent animals because Jesus is both our High Priest and Perfect Sacrifice. By laying down His Life on our behalf, He perfectly fulfilled what God required for our sins. And by interceding on our behalf, Christ frees us from the eternal consequences of our sins. So when we read about Christ making atonement for the sins of the people, we can rejoice and be comforted because He shields us from the wrath of God and restores us to His Everlasting Kingdom.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Only One in all of history and throughout the universe who can save us from our sins and release us from the oblivion of death. We cannot do anything to dissuade God from punishing us for our sins, but You can. Be our blessed Advocate and Redeemer. Make atonement for all of our mistakes and misdeeds, as we place our hearts and souls into Your Hands. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.