Sermon Notes: Day of Atonement
On October 2nd was the Day of Atonement. It is a biblical holiday, one I’ve mentioned in recent sermons.
“He shall slaughter the goat of the purification offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the curtain and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it upon the cover and before the cover. Thus he shall make atonement for the sanctuary, because of the uncleannesses of the Israelites and because of their transgressions, all their sins, and so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleanness.”
-Leviticus 16:15-16
“Then Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the Israelites, and all their transgressions, all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat and sending it away into the wilderness by means of someone designated for the task. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a barren region, and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.”
-Leviticus 16:21-22
What we just read was an annual institution. Every year the high priest, only he, would go into the Temple/Tabernacle past the candles, offerings, and other areas/items. He would go through the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the room that held the ark of the covenant. There, the mercy seat was present. This is where God would touch down. An offering was made to the Lord to satisfy the Law for the people’s uncleanness, missing the mark, falling short, and cleansing them. An atonement.
The other aspect many Christians don’t know is that there is another offering that is not sacrificed, no blood spilled. A goat, a scapegoat. This may sound familiar with a Christian lens. The high priest would lay his hands on this “live goat.” It says he would confess over this goat all the sins of the people. Then he would send it away to the wilderness.
“The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a barren region, and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.”
-Leviticus 16:22
Images of Jesus and what he did for all people are scattered throughout this holiday. It was always meant to point towards Jesus Christ—the final Atonement for ALL PEOPLE, for ALL TIME.
How is Jesus like the scapegoat?
- Jesus is the high priest (Hebrews 4:14).
- Jesus embodies the scapegoat (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- He knew no sin, yet he took upon himself all the sins of the world on the cross. Finality, it is FINISHED!
- Jesus went to the wilderness where he was met with the Enemy.
- Jesus withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
- Jesus intentionally isolated himself to do spiritual battle.
Jesus fulfilled prophecies that foretold these events long ago.
“All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.”-Isaiah 53:6
Jesus was the scapegoat. The dictionary defines a scapegoat as “one that is made to bear the blame of others.” Jesus didn’t deserve death. He didn’t deserve to be spit on, cursed, whipped until his skin split open. He didn’t deserve to be nailed to a cross. A nail placed against his skin, hammered through past blood, muscle, tendons, and bone until it hit wood. He didn’t deserve to hang there until he breathed his last breath saying, “Father forgive them. For they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).”
Jesus begged for their forgiveness. After all they did to him, he still wanted to block their punishment. He took it; he bore it for us, for ALL.
As we remember the Day of Atonement, let us remember whom it pointed to, Jesus Christ. Yeshua Hamashiach. The Son of God. He took the sins of the world so that none shall perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Amen!
Further Study
The Day of Atonement: Its Interpretations in Early Jewish and Christian Traditions
What Is the Day of Atonement? – The Bible Project
What is the meaning of Azazel / the scapegoat?
Pastor Alex
New Covenant Sabbath-Keeper