He went ahead of us
In the book of Leviticus, God gives us the blueprint of how He wanted things to run in Israel. He designed the Israelites' temple procedures and daily practices to be purposely distinct and unique from surrounding cultures. The statues He taught the Israelites were all to present God's glory to the world. They were supposed to be a city on a hill, that would reflect God's compassion for all the world through the sacrifices of the animals.
In the 16th Chapter, God's blueprint for the law of atonement is played out. This part of the law was only to be done by Aaron and his sons. God tasked them with handling the sins of the people and their forgiveness from God's wrath.
Before Aaron can enter the temple and fulfill its duties, he must first put on holy garments and, "bathe his body in water" (v4B).
After that:
"He shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering" (Leviticus 16:5 NASB).
One goat was to be sacrificed and used for the room behind the veil, the other one was sent into the wilderness.
"Then he shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat" (Leviticus 16:15 NASB).
Aaron and his sons are tasked to sprinkle the blood of the bull and the goat on the mercy seat to give an "atonement for the holy place" (v16). After he finishes with the atonement, he then is tasked with offering the live goat to God.
"Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness" (Leviticus 16:21 NASB).
This specific goat goes into the wilderness carrying "all their iniquities to a solitary land" (v22).
These temple practices were the old covenant, specifically by the Israelites and for them and anyone living among them. The new covenant's temple practices are all done by Jesus Christ, and it is meant for all people of the world.
Jesus came to fulfill the law's duties and complete the prophets foreshadowing of a savior. How does Jesus fulfill the duties stated in Leviticus 16?
1) Like how Aaron washed himself before coming into the temple. Jesus lets John the Baptist baptize Him in the Jordan River, "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15 NASB).
2) Like the goat that was sacrificed for the sins of the people, Jesus sacrifices Himself for the sins of humanity. Jesus commands His disciples to remember Him with the practice of the Lord's supper, The wine or grape juice is symbolical for Jesus' death, "My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28 NASB).
3) Like the goat which had all of Israel's confessed sins on its back, Jesus carries all of our sins on his back. The Apostle Peter states that Jesus Christ, "bore our sins in His body on the cross" (1 Peter 2:24 NASB).
4) Like the goat that is sent out into the wilderness, Jesus went ahead into the wilderness for our sake. The book of Matthew records, "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil" (Matthew 4:1 NASB).
Jesus Christ came to fulfill the works of the temple that gave us access to God, we do not need to do any works now. The only thing God requires is our belief in Him. That belief always results in works of righteousness. Jesus says to the pharisee's, "But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here" (Matthew 12:6 NASB).
*Read Hebrews 9-10 for more information on this topic.
Painting link: https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/the-scapegoat-sent-into-the-wilderness-in-the-bible-the-goat-for-azazel-was-a-goat-that-was-designated-to-be-outcast-in-the-desert-as-part-of-the-ceremonies/MEV-10908932
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