As I think about each gospel, each picture of Jesus being led out of the city and crucified for the sins of the world I am reminded of the scapegoat that would bear the sins of the people each year on the day of Atonement. The scapegoat is a foreshadow, a type of Christ that pictured what Jesus would do perfectly for HIS people. Remember how the author of Hebrews stated it?
Heb 13:8-16 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle do not have a right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy of holies by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that He might sanctify the people by His own blood. 13 Let us then go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city; instead, we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name. 16 Don’t neglect to do good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices."
Jesus is led outside the camp, HE is led out of the city as a scapegoat, and we learn in Isaiah 53:10 that, "it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands." Concerning Jesus being the scapegoat for our sins Spurgeon made the following comments.
What learn we here as we see our blessed Lord led forth? Do we not perceive that truth which was set forth in shadow by the scapegoat? Did not the high-priest bring the scapegoat, and put both his hands upon its head, confessing the sins of the people, that thus those sins might be laid upon the goat, and cease from the people? Then the goat was led away by a fit man into the wilderness, and it carried away the sins of the people, so that if they were sought for they could not be found. Now we see Jesus brought before the priests and rulers, who pronounce him guilty; God himself imputes our sins to him, “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all;” “He was made sin for us;” and, as the substitute for our guilt, bearing our sin upon his shoulders, represented by the cross; we see the great Scapegoat led away by the appointed officers of justice.
Beloved, can you feel assured that he carried your sin? As you look at the cross upon his shoulders, does it represent your sin? There is one way by which you can tell whether he carried your sin or not. Have you laid your hand upon his head, confessed your sin, and trusted in him? Then your sin lies not on you; it has all been transferred by blessed imputation to Christ, and he bears it on his shoulder as a load heavier than the cross.
Let not the picture vanish till you have rejoiced in your own deliverance, and adored the loving Redeemer upon whom your iniquities were laid. Spurgeon, C. H. (1995). Morning and evening : Daily readings (April 3 AM). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
In Leviticus we learn of the purpose of the scapegoat, to carry the sins of the people away. In Isaiah we catch a glimpse of the shadow of the great scapegoat, of the perfect scapegoat.
Is 53:6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the
iniquity of us all.
Is 53:11 He will see ⌊it⌋ out of His anguish, and He will be satisfied with His knowledge. My righteous servant will justify many, and He will carry their iniquities.
Is 53:12 Therefore I will give Him the many as a portion, and He will receive the mighty as spoil, because He submitted Himself to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.
Lev 16:8 “Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Lev 16:10 “But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.
Lev 16:26 “The one who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body with water; then afterward he shall come into the camp.
It never ceases to amaze me that all this was planned in eternity past! How can that be? I don't know...but the heart response to such news should be worship, awe, wonder, praise and adoration of the one who planned it! What does Luke teach us in Acts 2:23? Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. Luke continues in Acts 2:36-41, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!” 37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” 38 “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”
BE SAVED FROM THIS CORRUPT GENERATION! PURSUE WITH ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH THE ONE WHO WILLINGLY TOOK YOUR SINS AND MY SINS AND BORE THEM ON THE CROSS...HE CAME THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY! WHAT IS LIFE? KNOWING JESUS! KNOWING THE ONE WHO WILLINGLY TOOK WHAT I DESERVE...NOT ONLY A HORRIBLE DEATH, BUT THE FULL WRATH OF GOD! HE SUFFERED OUTSIDE THE CITY SO THAT WE COULD BE PRESENTED IN THE NEW JERUSALEM.
Let's pursue HIM, let's encourage one another to pursue HIM with a white-hot passion.
Father in heaven,
Fill me with YOUR Spirit and enable me to GO HARD AFTER YOU...AND TO BRING SOME WITH ME!
love,
m