“THE SCAPEGOAT:
A COMMUNION CELEBRATION”
OCTOBER 2, 2005
Intro: Today, we are going to celebrate the communion of our Lord. We are going to look at the way the Israelites celebrated the forgiveness of sin as we prepare ourselves for the celebration.
The Day of Atonement was the High Holy Day for the Jewish people. It is still celebrated now. In fact, the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur is coming up next week. It is the day when the Jewish nation confesses its sin to God and asks for God’s mercy.
We want to begin this morning by looking at the institution of this celebration, and seeing if there are some aspects that we can look at as followers of Jesus that make us understand his sacrifice for us in even greater detail.
"This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats--one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat
(3-10). He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. No one is to be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel. Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites. When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites--all their sins--and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert (15-22). This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work--whether native-born or an alien living among you- because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the community. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.
And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses (29-34).”
Leviticus 16:3-10; 15-22 & 29-34 (NIV)
Some Observations Regarding the Sacrifice:
1) One goat is killed as a sacrifice to God.
“He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. No one is to be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel. Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.” Leviticus 16:15-19 (NIV)
The blood of the goat represents the covering of sin.
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22 (NIV)
2) The second goat was sent away carrying the sins of the nation.
“When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites--all their sins--and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert.”
Leviticus 16: 20-22 (NIV)
The priest would place his hands on the goats head, verbally confess the sin of the nation and symbolically place those sins on the scapegoat.
The goat was taken into the desert or wilderness never to return.
Wilderness represented the place where evil dwelled. This goat was not killed, but was released into the desert to suffer the consequences that faced it there. This goat was no sacrifice to God because it symbolically carried the sins of the nation away.
3) This was to be an on-going worship ritual for the Jewish nation.
“This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites. And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.” Leviticus 16: 34 (NIV)
Every year, the nation is to worship in this way for the forgiveness of sin. It still goes on today. Next week, public schools will close for Yom Kippur. The Jewish people will seek God’s forgiveness for the sin of the past year. They do not do the sacrifices because there is no temple for them, but they observe the symbolism of the covering of sin.
Two Observations for Christians:
1) The atonement was made through Jesus Christ.
The Jewish sacrifice was carried out by the High Priest who was anointed by his father.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Matthew 3:13-17 (NIV)
“You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
Acts 10:37-38 (NIV)
God placed on Jesus the authority to make atonement for our sin.
“For this reason he (Jesus) had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17 (NIV)
Jesus became the sacrifice for our sin.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” John 1:29 (NIV)
Where two goats were offered, one for sin and the other for atonement, Jesus is the only sacrifice for our sin. In his death our sin was placed on him and his blood covers our sin.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)
2) Jesus sacrifice was made once for all time.
“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds. Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."
And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.” Hebrews 10:11-18 (NIV)
There is nothing that needs to be done to pay for your sin.
Three aspects of Jesus death that we should note:
1) Jesus was killed outside the city.
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.”
Hebrews 13:12 (NIV)
The scapegoat carried the people’s sins outside the city.
“He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert.”
Leviticus 16:22 (NIV)
2) Jesus was given over to Gods curse.
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’" Galatians 3:13 (NIV)
The scapegoat was cursed by being sent out of Gods presence.
“But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.” Leviticus 16:10 (NIV)
3) Jesus died as a consequence of sin.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NIV)
The sin of the nation of Israel was placed on the scapegoat.
“He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites--all their sins--and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task.” Leviticus 16:21 (NIV)
Scripture never says that Jesus became our scapegoat. However, the similarities between the Day of Atonement and the crucifixion of Christ are impossible to ignore.
As we celebrate communion today I have two closing thoughts for you.
1) If you are a follower of Christ, your sins have been carried away forever. You do not need another sacrifice, another guilt trip or another way to receive God’s grace. Your sins have been sent into the wilderness never to return.
2) If you have never been forgiven of your sin by Jesus, now is the perfect time. It is only through receiving the gift of the sacrifice of Jesus that we are forgiven of our sin.
****Warning: If you have never sought forgiveness of your sin, this communion is not meant for you.
Dear Jesus,
I ask you to forgive me of my sin. I ask you to take my sin into the wilderness and to let it be done away forever. I receive your sacrifice as the atonement for my sin. Amen.
****Communion
