The Blood of Atonement

Well, we are here on the Day of Atonement. What would be the Day of Atonement without going back to the source of its instruction Leviticus 23? So we're going to do that.

We're going to begin in Leviticus chapter 23 beginning in verse 26 and see the special instruction that God gave to ancient Israel about this feast day. In Leviticus chapter 23 and verse 26 it says, and the Lord spoke to Moses saying also on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you. You shall afflict your souls and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. Again, as I mentioned on trumpets, we are living sacrifices so we are the offering today as we come before our God. And you shall do no work on that same day for it is the Day of Atonement to make atonement for you before the Lord your God so that we can be at one, have at one-ments with God. Verse 29, in any person who's not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people and any person who does any work in that same day that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations and all your dwellings. It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, some translation Sabbath of complete rest. And you shall afflict your souls, or just once again on the ninth day of the month at even from evening to evening you shall celebrate your Sabbath. So in spite of the fact that you're afflicting yourself, it's a celebration.

So it's still a time to rejoice and be joyful even though we are going through a brief period of time in which we are afflicting our souls. The Hebrew word that's translated in English afflict your souls is anah and it means to humble yourself. From the Hebrew it's like looking down. You can't even look up being a little brow beaten, just kind of depressing yourself. Now there's no literal command to fast. You may have noticed that we just read these scriptures. There was no literal command to fast, but the Hebrews understood that to humble yourself in this way required one to fast without food and water. And the Hebrew word translated in English as atonement is kapur, and you may have heard the term, the Jewish term yam, kapur, day of atonement. And this basically means expiation. It's an act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing. That's the original meaning of that Hebrew word. And of course we know this holy day is part of the new covenant because of it in Acts chapter 27 and verse 9 near the close of the book of Acts. Many, many, many decades after Jesus had died and was resurrected, the Gentile Luke recorded that he and Paul were observing the day of atonement. He wrote, and they were on their way to Rome. Sailing was now dangerous because the fast was already over. And if you have one of those little margin thingies in your Bible, there may be an asterisk by the word fast, and you look in that little margin, it'll say day of atonement. So the scholars understood exactly what they're talking about.

So that's why we continue in the new covenant to observe this day because it was carried over and obviously observed by the apostle Paul and also by Luke who was a Gentile and recorded that.

This year I'm not going to go through Leviticus 16 in detail. I have in some past years, and that's recorded, and you're welcome to listen to that. In some years we've done a lot of detail and virtually everything that occurs in Leviticus 16. As I said, I've covered it extensively in past years. I'm just going to focus on a few verses because there's something else I want to focus on this year. Just as a recap, we know that the day of atonement, on that day the high priest entered the most holy place, the main atonement, by sprinkling blood virtually everywhere there was a human presence within the tabernacle itself. Anywhere there were people, including priests, he sprinkled blood and there was blood everywhere. If you read the rituals and how many times he's dipping his finger in blood and sprinkling it, it's absolutely remarkable. He was also to choose two goats that looked very much alike. They were about the same age. They were very similar looking and one was called the Azazel and represented Satan being held accountable as the deceiver of humanity and the instigator of our sins. He was sent into a wilderness, picturing a time when Satan would be sent away into a spiritual prison where he could no longer deceive the world. That was one of those two goats. The other goat, by lot, was chosen for the Lord, a very special purpose to represent something for the Lord. So let's recap it. Let's go to Leviticus 16, just a few verses again, unlike previous years where we extensively went through the chapter. We'll take a look at verses 4 through 10 today. Leviticus chapter 16 beginning in verse 4, he shall put on, this is speaking of the high priest, the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body and he shall be girded with the linen sash and with the linen turban he shall be attired, symbolic of the humility of Jesus Christ. Mr. Shaby mentioned the importance of humility. This was a simple white gown and garment that was worn by the high priest. This was different than what the high priest normally rose. The high priest usually was easy to find, had this big breastplate on him with stones that represented the 12 tribes of Israel. As I've said before, tongue-in-cheek, he looked like the NBC peacock. He was very colorful normally, but to fulfill this rule he took all of that off and he washed and he prepped himself and because he was representing Jesus Christ he came very humbly and simply into this ceremony. These are holy garments, it says, therefore he shall wash his body and put them on and he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering, one ram as a burnt offering, and Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering which is for himself and make atonement for himself and for his house. So that's kind of step one if he's going to portray representing Jesus Christ with these simple garments he's got to atone for himself and his own family before he can take the next step and begin to atone for the rest of the nation. Verse seven, he shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, then Aaron shall cast lot for the two goats, one for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. The first thing I want you to notice is that only one is for the Lord. Only one is specially purposed to fulfill something that's important to God personally and this particular goat represented Jesus Christ.

And then the other was the scapegoat and I think many of us know that the Hebrew word translated in English scapegoat is really a poor translation. In our culture, a scapegoat is normally someone who's artificially blamed for something that they don't deserve.

But in reality, the Azazel goat is getting exactly what he deserves. He's not a scapegoat, he's getting exactly what he's earned and so he is not a scapegoat. So one for the Lord, the other for the Azazel and Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell and he shall offer it as a sin offering, again representing once again the complete and total sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of humanity. But the goat in which the lot fell to be the scapegoat or the Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement upon it and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness. And again that represents what Satan has done for thousands and thousands of years and finally getting what he deserves by being isolated into a spiritual prison as is mentioned in the book of Revelation. Looking at verse 9, the goat that was for the Lord was sacrificed as a sin offering and again that's exactly what Jesus Christ was sacrificed for, our sins, the sins of humanity. This means his blood was shed and used as part of the offering and the goat symbolized to the future role of Jesus Christ in that Jesus was willing to come and voluntarily die for the sins of the world.

All right let's now spend a little bit of time in the book of Hebrews. So if you will turn with me to Hebrews chapter 9 and we'll take a look at what it says about this time and this event in the book of Hebrews and begin to give it more of a new covenant perspective. Hebrews chapter 9 and we'll begin in verse 1. Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 1. Then indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary for a tabernacle was prepared.

The first part in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread which is called the sanctuary that was the general area and all the priests could serve there. Verse 3 and behind the second veil, this is the part of the Holy of Holies, the part of the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold in which were the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant and above it were the caribim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat in a beautiful graphic that our sound crew had up a little earlier had exactly that.

It had that beautiful graphic of the caribim facing each other, their wings outstretched and almost touching one another facing each other on the lid of the mercy seat. All these things we cannot speak now in detail says the author of the book in Hebrews verse 6. Now when these things had been prepared the priest always went into the first part of the tabernacle. Notice that it's plural. Only the Holy of Holies which was separated by a veil from that area, that only the high priest could enter once a year but for the rest of that area at the tabernacle that's where the priest did their duties.

That's where they served and did the things that priests do performing their services. It says verse 7, but into the second part the high priest went alone once a year not without blood. He didn't dare go in there without the blood which represented the atonement of ultimately the shed blood of Jesus Christ and him giving his life for the sins of the world.

So he went there alone once a year and he made sure that he went in there with blood because that's what did the actual atoning which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit indicating this that the way into the holiest of all was not made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. Now that may sound a little cryptic but what the author of Hebrews is saying is the Holy Spirit indicates that the holiest of all was locked down so that only the high priest could go in there while the tabernacle still stood and while the first temple still stood.

There was a barrier. Only they, that is the high priest once a year could go into the holy of holies but now that Jesus Christ has come and become our great high priest we all have direct access to God. We all can go to the holy of holies which is God's most intimate throne and presence and talk to him and share with him our needs and our hopes and our dreams and our frustrations. He's a very good listener and we now have access to that even though again it was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.

It was closed to people. Verse 9, it was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to conscience. Concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of Reformation. So we can look back on that now and realize that that was all fleshly. That was all just offerings. They were food and drinks and washings.

They were all very fleshly ordinances and that's all been done away. It's all obsolete because of the sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ who fulfilled all of those steps as part of the old covenant. Let's take a look now at Hebrews chapter 9 dropping down to verse 11. But Christ came as high priest of the good things to come with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with his hands.

That is not of this creation, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood. He entered the most holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

So the author is saying if there was any benefit to the high priest going in there and sprinkling the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer and doing all that, if that had any benefit at all and it did give them atonement temporarily until the very next sin, so temporarily gave them some atonement.

But he says if that had any benefit think what a great and incredible benefit we have because Jesus Christ offered himself and obtained eternal redemption for all of us for every sin past present and future that could possibly be committed. Verse 15, and for this reason he is the mediator of the new covenant by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

So Jesus Christ redeems all of those who have ever lived including those who were under the first covenant. His death eliminates present sins that are committed by you and I and his death also will take care of future sins that may be committed by any of us because we have the righteousness of Christ dwelling in us through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I'm going to read verse 14 here from the translation God's word for today. The blood of Christ who has no defect does even more. Through the eternal spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done. Now we can serve the living God and I think that's very important. Now let's take a look at verse 19 here in Hebrews chapter 9 as we survey what the author of Hebrews who I believe is Paul writing here about the day of atonement and the things that happened on the day of atonement and how they relate to the new covenant.

When Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law he took the blood and calves of goats with water, scarlet, wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people saying this is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.

Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry and according to the law almost all things are purified with blood and without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Verse 23, therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in heaven should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. There's more to that statement than we may realize. What the author is saying is that there is a heavenly temple, a heavenly tabernacle and the tabernacle that just existed on earth was a cheap copy of what already exists in heaven. When the temple was built as magnificent as it was it was frankly just a cheap human-made copy of a temple that literally exists in the heavens as part of God's throne. So he's saying there's a there was these copies made on the earth and let's continue to read about that. For Christ has now not entered the holy places made with hands like the high priest would have in the old covenant which are copies of the true but in the heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. So he's saying Jesus isn't walking into that cheap copy like the high priest did every year only on the day of atonement. No, Jesus in the true spiritual sense of the temple, the tabernacle, literally went there to the presence of the Father and appeared in the presence of God for all of us. Remember what Jesus said to Mary on the day he was resurrected the evening before and he met Mary on early Sunday morning John chapter 20 verse 17.

He said don't cling to me Mary because I am ascending to my Father. I want you to go and tell my disciples that I am ascending to the Father and so that's exactly what Jesus did.

He went up to the third heaven and he went up into the literal tabernacle, the throne place of God and he made his presence there and was accepted as the eternal sacrifice that fulfilled all of the things that we read about as part of the old covenant. Verse 25, not that he should offer himself often as the high priest enters the most holy place every year with blood of another, he would then have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world but now once at the end of ages he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. So he only needed to do that once. The very next verse says, and as it is appointed for men to die once but after the judgment so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many to those who eagerly wait for him he will appear a second time apart from sin for salvation and all of us here eagerly wait for the second return, the second coming of Jesus Christ. The first covenant was confirmed by the shed blood of cabs and goats which needed to be sacrificed over and over again. The new covenant was confirmed by the blood of Jesus and occurred only once because he offered his own blood as an eternal sacrifice for all sin again past, present, and future sins. The role of Jesus Christ in heaven fulfilled the symbolism portrayed by that high priest in Leviticus 16. The day of atonement rituals and ceremonies of the high priest are now obsolete and we no longer perform them because they are no longer necessary or required. However, the meaning of this day of atonement is not and that's why Paul and that's why Luke all the way back to Acts chapter 27 are continuing to observe that fast day the day of atonement decades after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world and will return to remove Satan's dominance in this world is not obsolete or archaic. It is yet to come. New testament Christians look forward to the time when all nations will accept the shed blood of Jesus Christ and New Testament Christians also look forward to a time when Satan will be removed from the world and this is why we continue to observe the day of atonement year after year as a living and valid part of the new covenant. You know blood has great significance in the Bible. Its meanings involve profound aspects of human life and God's desire to transform human existence to a different level. I don't know how much you or how long you thought about blood but blood is intimately associated with physical life.

It's considered as life itself in scriptures. Let's see a few examples and maybe ask the question and maybe even answer the question why did God from the beginning condemn the idea of consuming or eating blood. Let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 12 and verse 23. Deuteronomy chapter 12 and verse 23.

Moses was inspired to write from God's instruction only be sure that you do not eat the blood for the blood is the life. You may not eat the life with the meat. You shall not eat it or consume it as we would say in modern terms. You shall pour it on the earth like water. You shall not eat it that it may go well with you and your children after you when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord. So why is God against the consumption of animal blood? The New Testament Hebrews were absolutely prohibited from eating or consuming any type of animal blood. What could be a number of reasons? There are diseases that are passed along from animals to humans in the blood and it's documented if you should eat or consume the blood of an animal that has some particular diseases.

You may also acquire that disease so that's one reason. Another reason is that most ancient societies believed as part of their religious practices that when one drank or consumed the blood of an animal one would acquire the characteristics of an animal. So if I drank a lion's blood I would be lion-like right? Or I would be a politician I would just be lying. So the idea was that if you consumed the blood of an animal you would acquire the characteristics of that animal whatever it was.

And the Egyptians consumed blood in their meals as documented in their writings. It was part of their diet and most likely so did the Israelites when they were slaves because they were pretty well overwhelmed by Egyptian culture and that's why it was such a struggle for God to get them out of that Egyptian mindset when he revealed the Mosaic law to them. It was something that was foreign.

So God was changing their pagan lifestyle by his instructions. But again why is God concerned with blood? It may help to understand just a basic principle of what blood does. Blood is a liquid that circulates the body from head to toe. It's truly unique in that way. Its oxygenation properties of blood ultimately affect every cell in the physical body. Physically speaking there's no more complete process that encompasses what we would call life than blood being pumped by the heart throughout the body and that's why the scriptures refer to it as life. Recently we had a politician who unfortunately there was an assassination attempt on him and the bullet just winged the tip of his ear and we might say in modern vernacular he bled like a pig. Well it's because blood pumps every area even the thin little cartilage in the top of our ear is filled with blood. That's what an incredible job it does from the very top of our head to the bottom of our feet. It brings life giving oxygen. It has cells in it which bring us immunity to diseases. It is incredible and truly the giver of life from a physiological point of view. Let's now take a look at Leviticus chapter 17 and verse 11 and we're going to see just another way that God instructs the Israelites not to consume blood for the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls. You see the proper use of blood God says is to make atonement for your souls. Isn't that interesting? Is it possible since Christ was slain from the foundation of the world that it was preordained that the shed blood of God who would come to this earth empty himself of his godhead and walk on earth as a mere human being live a perfect life be abused and allow himself to be crucified and shed his blood that all of that gives a special sanctity to blood and that God does not want human beings to consume blood because it demeans a very sacred nature of what was intended and provided for from the very beginning before Adam and Eve were even created. I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Therefore I said to the children of Israel no one among you shall eat blood no one nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood whatever man of the children of Israel or of the strangers who dwell among you who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust for it is the life of all flesh. Isn't the shed blood of Jesus Christ the life of all spiritual beings?

Isn't it our life that shed blood of Jesus Christ? Isn't that what gives us a spiritual essence allows us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit ultimately allows us to have a immortal life when the change comes at the return of Jesus Christ. For it is the life of all flesh its blood sustains its life therefore I said to the children of Israel you shall not eat the blood of any flesh for the flesh for the life of all flesh is its blood whoever eats of it shall be cut off. Again it's obvious from scripture that God considers blood to be an essential element of physical life. When God created Adam Adam did not live until he received the breath of life.

What did that do? Well the breath of life began the respiration process that pumped blood throughout Adam's body so that he could continue to sustain life. Even in Ezekiel's prophecy in Ezekiel chapter 37 about the dry bones the restored bones were lifeless until they received the breath of God. But why is God so anxious about Israelites not consuming animal blood?

Well the impression given in the scriptures that we've read is that blood may represent something sacred. It has a deeper meaning than first meets the eye but it's very very important to God that we do not consume or eat animal blood. It is proclaimed as responsible for life itself but it should absolutely never be consumed by us. And then came Jesus Christ as if things aren't complicated enough about blood and of course all of his listeners here in John 6 know the Mosaic law.

They know about Leviticus 17 that we just read so they're sitting out there innocently and they're listening to Jesus Christ and here's what he says in John chapter 6 and we'll pick it up in verse 51.

I am the living bread which came down from heaven if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever and the bread that I shall give is my flesh which I give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves saying how can this man give us his flesh to eat? Oh it's going to get worse.

Verse 53 then Jesus said and then Moses shortly is saying to you unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood. What? What? Contrary to the Mosaic law and drink his blood you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day for my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed and he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him as a living father sent me I live because of the father so he who feeds on me will live because of me.

Can you imagine what his original listeners thought about these words about these comments that violated everything they had ever known everything they had ever been taught about the law of Moses? Continuing this is the bread which came down from heaven not as your fathers ate the manna and are dead he who eats this bread will live forever these things he said in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum therefore many of his disciples when they heard this said this is a hard saying who can understand it when Jesus knew in himself that his disciples complained about this he said to them does this offend you what then if you should see the son of man ascend to where he was before it is the spirit who gives life the flesh profits nothing the words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life Jesus saying get it what I said was a metaphor I didn't mean literally drinking my blood I didn't mean literally eating my flesh it's a metaphor for accepting me and feeding on my presence feeding on the spirit that I'm going to share with you when you are converted and have the gift of the Holy Spirit it was a metaphor not something that's violating the law of Moses again he told him to feed on his flesh and drink in his blood and all of that I think is very interesting so now we come down to Luke chapter 22 and verse 14 some of the instructions of the Passover itself and we understand what Jesus had said there to be a metaphor and we use those symbols every Passover we realize and unlike some you know there's some religious faiths that believe they call it communion but that when they drink the wine that it literally turns into the blood of Jesus Christ as they're drinking it they believe that as they eat that little wafer that it literally becomes the body of Christ as they consume it that's not what Jesus Christ taught but he was teaching about some powerful metaphors for us Luke chapter 22 verse 14 when the hour had come he sat down and the 12 apostles with him then he said to them with fervent desire I've desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer before I go through the crucifixion and all the events leading up to that verse 16 for I say to you I will no longer eat of it until it's fulfilled in the kingdom of God and he took the cup and he gave thanks and said take this and divide it among yourselves for I say to you I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes and he took the bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them saying this is my body which is given for you do this in remembrance of me but in verse 20 likewise he also took the cup after supper saying this cup is the new covenant in my blood which is shed for you so on his final Passover Jesus told his disciples that the cup of wine they were to drink represented the new covenant in his blood which would soon be poured out not only for his disciples when he was crucified but for all humanity and every Passover we do this remembrance of what Jesus Christ did for us he died for us during every Passover we are reminded that we are joined we have joined ourselves to him in an everlasting covenant the wine in the cup represents the shedding of Christ's blood by which the ultimate atonement was made for us so for us when we look at today of atonement there are many layers and it can mean many things but for us the day of atonement should remind us that thankfully praise God due to Jesus Christ we have already been atoned to God and our status is secure and we are blessed and we are loved by God and we are considered his children because we have already received that atonement when we fellowship and covenant with Christ we receive the Holy Spirit when we partake of the Passover we internalize we once again say yes I want to feed on Jesus those were his words I want to feed on him I want to know him I want to be in his presence I want to learn from him his yoke is easy and his burdens are light I want to know God and I want to know what Jesus Christ and the Father are like so again when we partake of the Passover we internalize the life and presence of Jesus Christ within us so in conclusion perhaps a question maybe a few statements why was blood so commonly used in the Old Testament in animal sacrifices you could say the very first animal sacrifice goes all the way back to Genesis chapter 3 and verse 1 when God himself made clothing for Adam and Eve out of animal skins I mean common sense would tell us the animal had to die the animals most likely said oh no here you can have my skin I'll grow another one it doesn't normally work that way there was an animal said there was blood shed and there was animals that were sacrificed so that Adam and Eve could have clothing and then in Genesis chapter 4 and verse 4 Abel brought the firstborn of his flock as an offering it says and it's fats which implies that he didn't bring his firstborn as a living sacrifice it implies very strongly where it says of the fat there in Genesis chapter 4 and verse 4 that it was a sacrificial offering which in which the animal's blood was shed then in Leviticus chapter 16 and verse 9 on the day of atonement every year when the high priest walked into that tabernacle to begin his duties his services on that day of atonement it says in verse 9 and Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell and offer it as a sin offering that go to represented Jesus Christ and its blood was shed the shedding of blood pictured the eternal forgiveness of sin offered by Jesus Christ animals were of great value to the worshipper and their loss was painful and they showed that a precious life had to be sacrificed to forgive sin whether it was able bringing the firstborn of his flock that was a sacrifice or the sacrifices throughout the old covenant in which animals were killed and their bloods were shed it'd be part of an offering all that was a loss to someone who owned that animal but praise be to God that we can celebrate this day of atonement because Jesus Christ shed his blood and was sacrificed for us and who knows I can't turn to scriptures and absolutely prove it I'll dwell a little bit in speculation who knows maybe the reason that God said dogmatically you shall not consume the blood is because Jesus Christ was indeed sacrificed from the foundation of the world and maybe the symbolism that was always represented by the fact that God would someday come to earth walk on earth as a mere man and shed his blood for the sins of humanity maybe that gave blood a special significance to God and something that he did not want to see abused something he did not want to see despised by human beings abusing blood in any way we can't say for sure we don't know for sure but what we do know for sure is that this is the day of atonement and you and I can have the joy and rejoicing and knowing that we are completely atoned for our sins that God loves us that God is working with us to be his children we are forgiven we are in the process of sanctification of growing in the grace and the knowledge of our lord so this day we can rejoice physically speaking our trial will be over in a few hours but we can still continue to rejoice knowing that God has given us the most incredible gift in the world that will forever be within us and that is the gift of God's holy spirit so let us rejoice on this day of atonement in the year 2024