In Leviticus 16, we encounter the Day of Atonement, one of the most sacred ceremonies in the Old Testament. The passage opens on a somber note, as the Lord speaks to Moses following the death of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, who were struck down for offering an unauthorized fire before the Lord (Leviticus 16:1). Set at Mount Sinai, God commands a special annual ritual to purify Israel from sin and bring them back into communion with Him.
This Day of Atonement was distinct from the daily sacrifices made on behalf of Israel. Instead, it was a comprehensive, solemn ritual meant to reconcile Israel as a whole with God. It offered peace and purification, allowing the people to come closer to the holy God they served.
The Atonement Ritual: Two Goats, Two Purposes
The ritual began with Aaron, the high priest, sacrificing a bull for his own sins and the sins of his family (Leviticus 16:6). Following this, he would take two goats and cast lots over them, designating one “for the Lord” and the other “for Azazel” (Leviticus 16:7-8). The goat chosen for the Lord was sacrificed as a sin offering, and its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat within the Most Holy Place. This sprinkling cleansed the sanctuary from Israel’s sin (Leviticus 16:15-16), a solemn act that reminded them of Hebrews 9:22: “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.”
The second goat was called the “scapegoat” or the “Azazel goat.” After Aaron laid his hands on its head, confessing all the sins of Israel over it, the goat was released into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away the people’s transgressions (Leviticus 16:20-22). As Psalm 103:12 declares, “as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.” Through this ritual, Israel was purified, their sins atoned for, and their relationship with God restored.
The Symbolism and Fulfillment in Christ
Do we still observe this annual ritual today? No, because this ceremony was a symbolic precursor to something greater. Hebrews 9 explains that these Old Testament sacrifices were designed as an “illustration for the present time” (Hebrews 9:9). While the yearly Day of Atonement cleansed the people ceremonially, it did not address the root issue—the human heart. It was a system that had to be repeated, year after year, never offering a permanent solution.
Hebrews 9 reveals that Christ is the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement. While the high priest entered the Most Holy Place annually, Jesus, as our eternal High Priest, entered the “greater, more perfect Tabernacle” in heaven (Hebrews 9:11). He didn’t offer the blood of goats or calves but His own blood, securing our redemption once for all (Hebrews 9:12). Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant, Jesus’ sacrifice was final and complete. Through His death and resurrection, He became both the sacrificial Lamb and the scapegoat, carrying away our sins forever.
This is why Jesus came—to be the sacrifice that humanity needed. His life was destined for this purpose, as confirmed by an angel to Joseph in Matthew 1:20-21: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” John the Baptist recognized this, proclaiming when he saw Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
God’s Holiness and Grace in Balance
Our understanding of atonement also sheds light on God’s character. Last week’s account of Nadab and Abihu reminds us of God’s holiness and the seriousness of sin. God’s very nature requires justice; He cannot overlook sin. But in His love, God also forgives, demonstrating grace to those who turn to Him.
When the Lord appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai, He declared Himself to be “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness… forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6-7). This dual nature—God’s justice and mercy—was evident in the rituals of Leviticus and is fulfilled perfectly in Jesus. Through Christ, God upholds His justice while extending mercy and grace.
Christ’s Atonement and Our New Identity
Unlike the temporary cleansing of Leviticus 16, Jesus’ sacrifice reaches into the core of who we are, giving us a new identity. Rather than merely making us ceremonially clean, He transforms our hearts, purifying our consciences and making us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is a radical, complete redemption that goes beyond the surface, equipping us to worship and serve God from a place of genuine love and purity.
We no longer need to return, year after year, to a sacrificial altar because Jesus has made peace between us and God once and for all. Through Him, we have direct access to God and the promise of His abiding presence with us always.
The Message of the Lamb of God
Leviticus 16 beautifully foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice in Jesus. This is the message that believers are called to share: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus has provided a way for us to experience a personal, reconciled relationship with God. The call isn’t for rituals and sacrifices but for a faith rooted in what Jesus has already accomplished. Let this good news be the heart of our message to a world in need of peace and restoration.
