Why does the Day of Atonement matter for understanding Christ's work?
The Day of Atonement matters because it pictures Christ's high-priestly work in every detail. Its tabernacle types were fulfilled by Christ, who presented His blood as propitiation and advocate. Though called Atonement, it was really a Day of Covering, since true atonement came only when Christ died.
Les teaches that the only reason to revisit the Day of Atonement is that it so beautifully pictures what John's Gospel and Hebrews show—how Christ fulfilled every detail. The translators called it the Day of Atonement, but it was not actually a Day of Atonement for Israel; there was no atonement until Christ died, so it should be called the Day of Covering. Everything pictured in type in the tabernacle was fulfilled to the last jot and tittle by Christ, who became our high priest and presented His blood. Propitiation points to this finished work. Thus, when we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; we confess it, and He points to the blood, saying we are under the blood, and nobody accuses.