Leviticus 16 does not end up quite as central to us as Christians since we celebrate that Christ is our Passover Lamb and our Atoning Sacrifice. Due to the intentional timing of Jesus’s death and resurrection around Passover, we’re more familiar with that celebration. But this precious chapter amidst all the rules of uncleanness details the description of the Day of Atonement. This was not optional for the Israelites but was commanded in its observance as an annual rite (Lev. 16:34), on par with the observance of Passover. For the Christian, we gain a better understanding of the centrality of Christ’s sacrifice by observing this chapter in all of its detail. There’s more theology here than one sermon or synopsis can get into! I have never been on a flight where the oxygen masks have actually dropped due to a drop in cabin pressure. Yet I know the spiel that you need to put your own mask on first before you help your children or others around you. Leviticus has already developed this concept, and it shows up again in the Day of Atonement. Aaron, and every high priest thereafter, must sacrifice a bull for his own sin before proceeding. At the risk of oversimplification let us take away this one point of doctrine: until you’ve confronted your own sin you have little business assisting others with theirs. Jesus says as much to us in Matthew 7, to attend to the plank in our own eye before the speck in our neighbor’s. Romans 3:23 that famously states “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” This idea was nothing new to the apostle Paul. He knew that even the high priests sinned. Aaron and his descendants weren’t given an option “if you sinned, then sacrifice” or “if it wasn’t too bad, just sacrifice a pigeon.” Nope, before representing the people before God, the priest had to offer a bull. But then two goats are taken. Lots are cast for which death occurs to which one, but make no mistake, they both die! Leviticus 16:9 tells us that one is to be offered as a sin offering. Blood is sprinkled on the altar. The Israelites of the day were under no illusion that they were holy, this blood was for their wickedness, sin, and rebellion. The second though, is the Scapegoat. The Priestly duty is to put both hands on the goat and impute on it all the sins, rebellion, wickedness and waywardness of the people. And then the goat is sent into the wilderness. But there are more descriptions to it: picking up at verse 20, we’re told someone had to go with the goat, bringing it to a remote place. Why? To make sure that it doesn't come back! Sin is to be confessed and then brought far away. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice and also our scapegoat. He took our sin not just to the wilderness but to the grave, so far away that they cannot return. Truly, the Day of Atonement is celebrated once a year as a reminder of what God has done. We celebrate Easter once a year to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Do we still sin? Yes, we’re simultaneously justified yet sinful. We are atoned for, yet make mistakes. The scapegoat isn’t paraded, and we don’t get to sign up other people for confession of their sins. We are called to confess our sins to Jesus, our atoning scapegoat, and celebrate that they’ve been carried far away. Thanks be to God! - Pastor Steven