Every once in a while I get asked, “Why do we
have to start every worship service with confession of sins?” (The word “every” is usually accented with a
weary burdensome emphasis.) They
complain that it’s such a negative start to the service. “It makes people feel bad about themselves.”
It’s a good question. It’s a fair question. It is also a question that has bearing on the
reading today where Aaron and his sons were consecrated for the priesthood.
At Aaron’s ordination God gave directions to
Moses as to how to ordain the first priest of Israel. Interestingly the ordination lasted seven
days, and the main piece to this ordination was the sacrifice of a bull. Aaron and his sons were to place their hands
on its head, and then it was to be sacrificed.
But it wasn’t just any sacrifice.
After all, there were other foods that were sacrificed for fellowship
and praise. A ram was sacrificed as a
“pleasing aroma to the Lord.” The bull,
however, had a different purpose. God
said, “it is a sin offering.”
Aaron’s ordination began with a sin
offering. In fact, for seven days, Aaron
and his son’s put their hands on the head of a bull – essentially confessing
their sins and transferring them to the bull – and it was sacrificed for their
sin.
Seven days!
That’s a lot of beef! That’s a
lot of blood! That must say something
about the human condition of sin and how much it takes to make atonement for transgressions!
Aaron when through this extensive ritual of
confession and sacrifice for the forgiveness he needed so that he might serve
the LORD. Indeed, the rest of his life would
be focused around offering a variety of sacrifices, but mostly he would be
focused on sacrifices to atone for sin and give forgiveness.
When we gather for worship we are gathering
in God’s presence. He is actually,
really, truly (yea verily!) present among us.
The holy Lord of the universe deigns to dwell among us as His
people. In His holy presence how can we
not confess our sins and beg for His forgiveness? How could we not acknowledge that we are
unworthy of God’s love, in need of His forgiveness, and acknowledge that He is
eager to give it to us for Jesus’ sake?
We take forgiveness for granted. But seeing what God made Aaron and his sons
go through perhaps gives us a new appreciation for how offensive sin is to Him,
and how incredible the words that are spoke to us week after week are: “Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son
to die for you and for His sake forgives you for all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ,
in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus, I forgive you for all your
sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Then we say, “Amen.” That is, “Yes, Lord, let it be as he has
said. Let me have that forgiveness. I cannot earn it on my own. It took Jesus’ blood – so much more precious
than the blood of a bull – to cleanse me of my sins. Give me Jesus’ death that I might live in His
resurrection!”
Why do we start every service with
confession? So we can start every
service with absolution; that is the announcement that you and I are forgiven
for Jesus’ sake.
Father in Heaven, I thank and praise you for forgiveness. Help me also to serve and obey you. Amen.
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