The Sacrificial System: A Foreshadowing of Christ’s Sacrifice" (Leviticus 16:20-22)

Text: Leviticus 16:20-22

"When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He 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."

Introduction:

The book of Leviticus contains the detailed instructions for the sacrificial system that governed the lives of the Israelites. While these sacrifices can seem distant or irrelevant to us today, they hold deep significance as they point forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Day of Atonement, described in Leviticus 16, highlights the importance of atonement for sin and the way God provided a means for His people to be reconciled to Him. These rituals are a shadow of what Christ would accomplish on the cross.

I. The Need for AtonementSin creates a barrier between humanity and God. The Israelites, like us, were in desperate need of reconciliation with God. The sacrificial system was God’s provision for them to restore the broken relationship caused by sin.

Leviticus 16 describes the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), when the high priest would offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. The ritual was a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need for God’s intervention.

The concept of atonement (making amends for sin) is central to the Christian faith, and the sacrificial system was God’s temporary solution until the perfect sacrifice would come.

II. The Significance of the ScapegoatThe live goat, known as the scapegoat, played a key role in the atonement ritual. Aaron, the high priest, would lay his hands on the goat’s head, confess the sins of the people, and send the goat into the wilderness. The goat symbolically carried the sins of the people away.

This act of transferring sin onto the goat illustrates the burden of sin and the need for it to be taken away. It foreshadows the work of Christ, who would take our sins upon Himself and carry them away once and for all.

III. Christ: Our Perfect SacrificeJesus is the fulfillment of the sacrificial system. Just as the high priest offered sacrifices for the people, Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.

In the same way that the scapegoat carried the sins of the people away, Jesus bore our sins on the cross and took them far away, removing the penalty of sin for all who trust in Him.

Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all, unlike the repeated sacrifices in the Old Testament. His death on the cross was sufficient to cover the sins of humanity forever.

IV. The Implications for Us TodayThe sacrificial system shows us the seriousness of sin and the costly nature of atonement. While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, we must understand that sin is a grave offense against a holy God, and it was dealt with through the sacrificial death of Jesus.

As Christians, we are called to live in light of the finished work of Christ. We no longer have to carry the burden of sin because Jesus has taken it upon Himself. This truth should fill us with gratitude and lead us to live lives of worship, obedience, and holiness.

Conclusion:

The sacrifices of Leviticus point to a greater truth—the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is our scapegoat, taking away our sins and reconciling us to God. As we reflect on the atonement provided through Christ, may we be reminded of the depth of God’s love and the cost of our redemption. Let us live in the freedom and grace that Christ’s sacrifice has provided.