The Scapegoat

From the earliest days of Israel’s worship, God gave a picture so vivid, so sacred, that it would echo through time and find its fulfillment in Jesus Christ—the scapegoat.  

On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), two goats were presented before the Lord. One was sacrificed upon the altar, its blood poured out as an offering for sin. The other, the scapegoat, was kept alive. Upon it, the high priest would lay his hands and confess the sins of the nation, symbolically transferring their guilt onto this innocent animal. Then the goat was led away into the wilderness—never to return.  

1. The Two Goats: One Message 

The first goat represented atonement through blood—the payment required for sin.  

The second goat represented removal through grace—the taking away of sin.  

Both point to one complete work in Christ.  

“Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” — John 1:29 

The blood of the first goat satisfies God’s justice.  

The banishment of the second goat satisfies God’s mercy.  

Together, they reveal the fullness of redemption — the penalty is paid, and the guilt is gone.  

2. The Confession and Transfer of Sin 

When Aaron laid his hands on the goat, he symbolically placed upon it the weight of Israel’s rebellion, idolatry, lies, violence, and pride. Imagine the scene: the people standing silent, the priest confessing aloud every form of sin, and that innocent creature receiving it all — not by its own will, but by divine appointment.  

This is what Jesus bore for us.  

“The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” — Isaiah 53:6 

Upon His head was not only a crown of thorns, but the weight of every curse and sin ever committed.  

He became the true scapegoat — rejected, despised, and driven outside the camp.  

3. Driven into the Wilderness 

After the confession, the scapegoat was led away “by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness” (Leviticus 16:21). The wilderness was a place of desolation — empty, dry, forsaken. There, the goat would wander and die, carrying away the sins of the people.  

“Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” — Hebrews 13:12 

Christ, too, was led away — away from the city, away from the temple, away from man’s approval — to Golgotha, the place of the skull. There, He bore our sin, shame, and judgment, so that we could be brought near to God.  

The scapegoat disappeared into the distance, never to return.  

So, too, has your sin disappeared under the blood of Jesus.  

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” — Psalm 103:12 

4. The Fit Man 

Leviticus mentions the “fit man” — the one strong and chosen to carry the goat into the wilderness.  

He was not the high priest, but one assigned to complete the act of separation.  

In the mystery of redemption, this “fit man” foreshadows the Holy Spirit, who applies the finished work of Christ to our hearts.  

Just as the goat could not send itself away, our sins could not leave us apart from the Spirit’s cleansing power.  

He carries the effect of the cross into the depths of our being — removing the guilt, cleansing the conscience, and declaring us free.  

“How much more shall the blood of Christ… purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” — Hebrews 9:14 

5. The Silence of the Goat 

The scapegoat did not resist. It did not speak. It bore the weight quietly.  

“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.” — Isaiah 53:7 

Christ stood silent before His accusers. He bore our sins without complaint.  

He took what was ours so we could receive what was His — righteousness, peace, and access to the Father.  

6. The Final Atonement 

The Day of Atonement had to be repeated every year. The people’s sins were only covered, not removed. But when Jesus came, His sacrifice was once and for all.  

“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.” — Hebrews 10:12 

No more goats. No more sacrifices. No more remembering sin every year.  

The true Scapegoat has come. The Lamb has taken away the sin of the world.  

Conclusion: He Carried It All 

The scapegoat shows us what love looks like under the weight of sin.  

It shows us a Savior who not only paid the price but carried the guilt far away.  

He was forsaken so that we could be forgiven.  

He was sent out so that we could be brought in.  

He bore our shame so that we could stand unashamed before the Father.  

Every time guilt tries to return, remember: 

It was carried away. It’s gone.  

The wilderness has claimed it, and the cross has cleansed it.  

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 

Christ is both our Sacrifice and our Scapegoat — the One who shed His blood and the One who carried our sin away forever.