The most mysterious and powerful part of Joshua 20 comes in verse 6. The person who accidentally killed someone has made it to the city of refuge. The elders have heard his case and let him in. He’s stood trial and been declared innocent of murderous intent.

And now… he waits.

He can’t go home. He can’t return to his normal life. He has to stay in that city until something very specific happens: until the high priest dies.

Wait, what?

What does the high priest’s death have to do with any of this? The high priest wasn’t involved in the killing. He wasn’t part of the trial. He wasn’t connected to either the victim or the person who caused their death. So why does his death change everything?

The Death That Satisfies Justice

Here’s what we know from Numbers 35: blood pollutes the land, whether it’s shed intentionally or accidentally. And that pollution has to be dealt with. For a murderer, the solution is clear – life for a life. The murderer is executed, and justice is satisfied.

But what about the person who killed someone accidentally? He didn’t murder anyone, so execution doesn’t fit. But the blood was still shed. The land is still polluted. Justice still needs to be satisfied.

And somehow – mysteriously, beautifully – the high priest’s death accomplishes that. His death atones for the blood that was shed. His death satisfies the claims of justice. His death releases the person who’s been trapped in the city of refuge.

When the high priest dies, everything changes. The person who’s been in exile can finally go home. The family seeking revenge no longer has a legal claim. The debt is paid. The matter is settled.

Pointing to Jesus

And guys, if you can’t see Jesus all over this, you’re not looking hard enough.

Hebrews 2:17 says, “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

Jesus is our High Priest. And His death doesn’t just cover our accidental sins. It covers all of them. Every last one.

Here’s the thing: those people in the cities of refuge didn’t fully understand: they weren’t just manslayers. None of us are just manslayers. We’re all murderers. We’ve all committed cosmic treason against the God of the universe. We all deserve death. We all deserve eternal separation from God.

But Jesus, our High Priest, died in our place.

And His death dealt decisively with our guilt. Not partially. Not conditionally. Decisively. Completely. Forever.

When Jesus died, everything changed. We’re not waiting for some future high priest to die so we can go home. The High Priest has already died. The debt is already paid. The matter is already settled.

We’re free.

The Gospel We’ve Been Looking for All Along

This is what God has been pointing to all along. The cities of refuge were never just about ancient Israel’s legal system. They were always meant to show us our need for Jesus Christ, the only true refuge for sinners.

We’re all running from something. Guilt. Shame. Past mistakes. Consequences we can’t undo. And we keep trying to find refuge in all the wrong places – achievement, relationships, money, success, addictions.

But there’s only one refuge that actually works. There’s only one place where justice and mercy meet perfectly. There’s only one place where we can be fully protected and fully free.

And that place is Jesus.

His refuge is accessible right now. God has paved the road to the cross. He’s put up signs everywhere pointing you to Jesus. No matter where you are, no matter what you’ve done, no matter how far you’ve run, the signs are there: Refuge. Refuge. This way to safety.

His death satisfies justice. He took the punishment you deserved so you could be forgiven. He paid the debt you could never pay so you could go free.

And His refuge is available to everyone. It doesn’t matter what your background is, what you’ve done, whether you’re a church kid or this is your first time hearing about Jesus. If you run to Him, He will not turn you away.

The High Priest has died. Everything has changed. You can go home now.

Questions for reflection:

• Are you still trying to earn your way out of guilt, or have you accepted that Jesus’ death is sufficient to set you completely free?
• If you’ve already run to Jesus for refuge, who in your life needs to hear that the High Priest has died and they can finally go home?