Heaven's Scapegoat

The day of “atonement” (v. 30), is a holy day during which the high priest offered sacrifices for his sins and for the sins of the nation (Num 29:7). It pictures the Lord Jesus as our “great High Priest” (Heb 4:14), Who “had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever” (Heb 10:12), by His shed blood and death on the cross (Mt 26:28). When the high priest performed this annual ritual (v. 29), he would enter the holy of holies and sprinkle the blood of the goat “upon the mercy seat” (v. 15), to atone for the sins “of the children of Israel” (v. 19). An important part of this day is the sending way of the “scapegoat,” after casting lots “upon the two goats.” In our modern language, a scapegoat pertains to the one who carries the blame for others.

Aaron casts the lots to determine which of the two goats was for the “sin offering” (v. 9), and one “to be the scapegoat” (v. 10). The scapegoat would be sent away into the wilderness after the high priest “shall lay both his hands” (v. 21a), upon its head and confesses the nation’s sins. This is a wonderful similitude of the Old Testament and New Testament salvation – it is not by works (Titus 3:5), but always by faith (Heb 11:6). The goat that was slain symbolizes our redemption through Christ when He paid in full the price required by our sin (1 Cor 6:20) – He was slain to redeem us to God by His precious blood (Rev 5:9)!

The scapegoat pictures the sufficiency (2 Cor 3:5), of Christ’s atonement (Rom 5:11), by completely taking “away our sins” (1 Jn 3:5). He conquered death (Rev 1:18), to wash away our sins (Rev 1:5). When sinners trust Him by faith as their Lord and Saviour (Eph 2:8), their sins are not only paid for, they are taken away forever. Jesus carried all our sins away, because He is Heaven’s scapegoat! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera