The Scapegoat
“Come now, and let us reason together”, says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18
The Day of Atonement was the single most important day during the time of Jesus because every year the high priest would sacrifice a goat and sprinkle its blood on the altar for the atonement of the people.
But there were actually two goats sacrificed on this day. The first goat’s blood was sprinkled on the altar while the other goat was led to a cliff in the wilderness, where it would meet its end. This goat was called the “scapegoat” – it represented the “carrying away” of the iniquities of the children of Israel.
It is in connection with this Jewish ceremony, that an interesting tradition arose which is mentioned in an ancient Jewish commentary. A crimson-coloured sash would be placed on the door of the Temple before that second goat was sent into the wilderness. When the goat died, somehow the sash would turn to white. And this was a sign to Israel that God had accepted their sacrifice and their sins were forgiven. The commentary goes on to say, however, that something happened in 30 AD, approximately forty years before the destruction of the Second Temple. Despite the continued goat sacrifices each year, the sash never turned to white again.
Do you know the only other very significant thing that happened about this very time? Jesus died! And so, all other sacrifices either of goats or sheep became null, void and of no effects.
Two thousand years ago, the final sacrifice was made for the atonement of our sins and for the sins of all who would believe. Yes! Jesus is the Messiah! He has died and risen again! He rules at the right hand of our Father and He is interceding for us right now! Hallelujah!