Today’s reading from Leviticus describes what Aaron must do to atone for his sins and the sins of the Israelites. There’s an awful lot of steps he must take, but then again this is the Old Testament where rituals and sacrifices were commonplace.
Thanks be to God for sending his Son so that today’s story is quite different. No longer are we required to slaughter bulls and goats and then sprinkle blood with our finger seven times before the atonement cover.
No, the ultimate sacrifice was made by way of Jesus’s death on the cross. He shed his blood for our sins. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering (Isaiah 53:4).
Jesus became the new scapegoat.
In Leviticus 16:21-22, Aaron 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 wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.”
Hebrews 9:11-14 gives us a new story, one to rejoice over: But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Witnessing Old Testament foretelling come to light in the New Testament is fascinating.
Thank you, Father, for fulfilling your promises and giving us the ultimate gift of mercy - a willing scapegoat for our sins.
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