“And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Leviticus 16:7)
For most Christians there is universal acceptance of the fact that the appointed Jewish spring feasts were perfectly fulfilled through the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In fact, Paul describes these feasts as “a shadow of things to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:17) Many believe that the fall feasts will be fulfilled at the Second Coming of our Lord. But, did Jesus not fulfill a portion of the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, two thousand years ago?
The appointed feasts of the Lord are found in the book of Leviticus and in chapter 16 are specific instructions for the Jewish high priest to be conducted on the “Day of Atonement” (Yom Kippur), the holiest day of the year that occurs each fall in which all of Israel would mourn for its sins. On this day and only this day, the High Priest would enter the Most Holy of Holies in the Temple to offer blood sacrifices for himself and the people of Israel. Then, the Day of Atonement included a ceremony that involved the expulsion of a living animal bearing the “sins of the people.”
Two nearly identical he-goats were chosen from the congregation of the people and presented to the High Priest. He would “cast lots” to determine which was “for the Lord” and which was “the scapegoat.” One goat was selected for sacrifice in the Temple and the other “for Azazel” in the Hebrew which means “the goat who departs.”
“And Aaron (High Priest) shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:21) It was led away and not slain. In practice, the goat would have a red cord placed on its head depicting sin and would then be led to a cliff with sharp rocks below. It was not to be killed beforehand but to be pushed down the cliff to ensure its miserable death.
When Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane he was first taken to appear before Caiaphas the High Priest and the Sanhedrin for purposes of finding false evidence to justify putting him to death. Caiaphas asked Jesus if he is the Messiah, the Son of God. “Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. ” (Matthew 26:64) At this instant, Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin erupt with anger charging Him with blasphemy and they began beating Jesus with their fists and slapped Him.
But in the King James Version it states, “Then they did spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,” (verse 67). The word “buffet” comes from the Greek word ‘kolaphizo’ which means “to beat with fists.” To smite someone means to slap in a heavy manner but in a direct and personal act.
In pronouncing judgment on Jesus and then by striking and smiting Him with the palms of their hands, they were fulfilling Leviticus 16 by placing their hands on His head. Unbeknownst to them they pronounced their iniquity upon Him and He became their sin offering.
Jesus was then led before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Pilate did not want to intervene in the matter but members of the Sanhedrin reasoned saying, “we are not permitted to put anyone to death.” (John 18:31) It was the custom at this time for the Roman governor to offer the release of one prisoner during the Passover and in this case both Jesus and a prisoner by the name of Barabbas were presented to the people in the courtyard to select. According to the Bible, the priests whipped the crowd into a frenzy to pardon Barabbas and shout for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Just as two identical he-goats would be presented it is interesting to note that these two men were presented in like manner. One was Jesus, the Son of the Father. And the other was Barabbas whose name in Greek translates, “son of the father.”
Just as the sins of the people were pronounced on the head of the goat to be led away, so were the sins of all people placed on Jesus Christ, and by taking them away, freeing us from the guilt of our sins.
Just as the scapegoat was not to be slain but ensured a miserable death, so Jesus was not slain by the hands of Jews but by the hands of Romans in a brutal and miserable crucifixion.
Just as a red cord was placed on the head of the scapegoat representing sin, so the Son of God had a blood-soaked head from a crown of thorns forced on His.
Just as Barabbas was a pardoned thief, insurrectionist and murderer, so we too were pardoned of our sins, all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
It is the fulfillment of Leviticus 16.
“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us….How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:12,14)