GOD'S PROVISION FOR OUR SIN

The phrase in the stanza that says “He taketh my burden away” refers to the burden of sin that we all bear. Jesus came to lift that burden and to carry it away from His people forever. These verses have something to say about that.

In this passage, we are given the guidelines for carrying out the annual Day of Atonement also known as Yom Kippur.

This was the highest and holiest day on the Jewish religious calender. It was on this day that the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the people.

Another vital part of the rituals of the day was the sending away of the scapegoat. This symbolized the taking away of the sin of the people.

It is this aspect of the Day of Atonement that I want on focus on this morning and by doing so, I want us to see that Jesus Christ has done in perfection what this Old Testament ritual could only do in symbol.

My desire is to show us this morning that Jesus is our Scapegoat.

We are familiar with scapegoats in our culture. We see them all the time, especially in politics. Someone will make a mistake, and another person will step forward to carry the blame. Sometimes, criminals claim that they are nothing more than a scapegoat. They want us to believe that they are innocent and that people have just transferred the blame to them because they were handy. The idea of a scapegoat is not a new one. In fact, the idea originated with God. Let’s look into the Scriptures today and get a glimpse of Jesus in this ancient Israelite ritual. I want to preach for a few minutes on this thought: “He Taketh Our Burden Way”.

I. TWO GOATS ARE SELECTED-VS. 5-8

A. Their Source—“Of the congregation”-vs. 5

These goats were ordinary goats. They were not held to the same requirements as other offerings. They did not stand out as being special.

Jesus—Isaiah 53:2 “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”

Matthew 13:54–55 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?”

B. Their Sanctification-vs. 7

The goats were presented to the Lord and were deemed holy.

Jesus, He was pure, sinless and holy—1 Peter 2:22 “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” 2 Cor. 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

1 John 3:5 KJV 1900

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

C. Their Selection-vs. 8

ill. The casting of lots. Not gambling, God overrode the process.

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Chapter 16

“Aaron casts lots for the two goats.” These two goats were not for himself but for the people. We must regard them as if they were but one offering, for it needed both of them to set forth the divine plan by which sin is put away. One was to die, and the other was, typically, to bear away the sin of the people. One goat was to show how sin is put away in reference to God by sacrifice, and the other goat was to show how it is put away in reference to us, God’s people, by being carried into oblivion.

There were two goats, they served two different purposes:

1. The Lord’s Goat—Was to serve as an atoning sacrifice.

(Ill. Christ’s death on the cross atoned for all the sin of the world, even the lost man’s! 1 John 2:2

1 John 2:2 KJV 1900

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Hebrews 9:24–28 “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

2. The Living Goat- It symbolized the removal of their sins.

Christ’s blood paid for all sin, but He only becomes the substitute for those who receive Him by faith.

(Ill. Salvation in the OT was the same as today!) (Ill.

Acts 16:31 Heb. 9:28; Heb. 2:9; Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24.)

Acts 16:31 KJV 1900

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

What a shame to miss out on God’s gift!

II. ONE GOAT IS SACRIFICED-VS. 9

A. The Pain—The brutality of the process.

The Crucifixion at Calvary and the brutality of the offering of the Son of God—The altar was upright, the result was the same.

Isaiah 52:14 “As many were astonied at thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, And his form more than the sons of men:”

Ill. Psa. 22:6–7, 15, 17!

B. The Purpose—To atone for sin.

It takes blood to deal with sin—Rom. 6:23; Heb. 9:22

Hebrews 9:22 KJV 1900

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Thank God for the shed blood of the Lord Jesus—Rev. 1:5! (Ill. The modern desire for a bloodless, sanitized religion!)

C. The Picture—Jesus sacrificial death on the cross.

Every single goat that was killed throughout the history of Israel pointed ahead in time to that glorious day when Jesus our Savior was crucified for the sins of the world.

The question for you is this, Have you received His death as the payment for your sins?

III. ONE GOAT IS SENT AWAY-VS. 10, 20-22

Ill. It took 2 goats to adequately portray what Jesus was able to do all alone!)

The first goat speaks of Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross to satisfy God and pay man’s sin debt.

The second goat speaks of the results of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, i.e. the removal of all the sins of those who trust Jesus by faith!

A. Sin Transferred-vs. 21

What was confessed was:

1. Iniquity—This word means “bent or crooked”.

and refers to the bent in human nature toward sin. This word reminds us that we are guilt sinners by birth,

Romans 3:10–12 KJV 1900

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

2. Transgression—This word means “rebellion, or to step over a boundary”.

This word deal with our violations of God’s holy Law and commandments.

James 2:10 KJV 1900

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

3. Sin—This word means “to miss, or to fall short”.

It describes our inability to ever fully measure up to God. We will never be good enough to please Him and of ourselves, because we are all sinners,

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Chapter 16

Notice the repeated “all” in this verse: “Aaron will lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the Israelites’ iniquities and rebellious acts—all their sins.”

All these were confessed, all were taken away!

Jesus came to deal with every form of evil!

(Ill. 2 Cor. 5:21; Matt. 27:45–46—Somewhere during those dark hours on the cross, God the Father placed every sin of every human on the person of His Son, and Jesus became the very embodiment of sin itself. At that moment, God judged Jesus in the place of every sinner.)

B. Sin Taken Away-vs. 21-22

The true work of the scapegoat was purely symbolic, no sin was actually removed.

It was faith that saved the sinner. Not Faith in a ritual that could never save in itself.

Only Jesus has the power to remove sin forever!

After all, that’s why He came,

Isaiah 53:4 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.”

John 1:29 KJV 1900

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Micah 7:19; 1 John 1:7)

When the sinner comes to Jesus by faith, his sins are not only paid for, they are taken away forever!

(Note: Because sin is gone, we can be called God’s children. We can have fellowship with Him. We can have the hope and assurance of Heaven. We can enjoy fellowship and communion with God. We can enter His presence in prayer. We are no longer under condemnation!)

(Note: The Jewish set up stations at certain intervals along the way to the wilderness. As the “Fit Man” and the scapegoat passed the stations, the man was given refreshments and the occupants of that station went with him to the next station. When the goat finally arrived at the wilderness, the “Fit Man” finished the job of leading the goat away by himself. However, those at the last station would hold up a red flag to notify the next station that the job had been accomplished. Each station would then signal back until the word arrived at the camp of Israel that their sins had been taken away. At the time, the people would begin to worship the Lord and to praise Him openly with songs and with shouts. Up until this time, they had been subdued and quite in the worship. Now, they feel free to explode in praise to the Lord! It is a cause for deep joy to know that sin is gone! Ill. It Is Well With My Soul!)

C. The “Fit Man”- Fit = able, ready, timely

He had some characteristics that are worthy of notice. He was to be:

1. One who knew the way to the wilderness.

2. One who was able to endure to the end.

3. One who was able to withstand the ordeal—Loneliness, fatigue, thirst, isolation.

4. One would not stop short of the goal.

5. One who could find his way back again.

Jesus fits the bill! He is the fit man! He is fit to be your Savior!

Is He?

Conclusion

Have your sins been transferred to Heaven’s scapegoat?

The load of sin—Psa. 38:4

Psalm 38:4 KJV 1900

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: As an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

You say, “But, I thought Jesus became sin on the cross and that He has already paid for my sins.” That is true for you only if you come to Him for salvation!

Jesus came to remove your load of sin. And, He will if you will come to Him for salvation!

Will you allow Him to do that today? He waits for you right now. All you need to do is come and receive Him.

Thank God, there is a way out of sin and into salvation for everyone who will put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Maybe today is the day that we thank Him for taking away the penalty for our sins!!!

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