The Scapegoat

Leviticus 16:22  "The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert."

Leviticus 16 is all about instructions.  Life and death instructions...do this or die instructions.  Aaron had quite a bit of pressure on his shoulders as he, as the very first High Priest, dared to enter the Most Holy Place on behalf of himself and the people of Israel.  Any mishap of the order of things and he's a dead man.  The verse above is a bit confusing as it says "all their sins".  I found that later in the chapter in verse 34 that it's for "all their sins made once a year".

I can imagine the Day of Atonement being such a glorious, peaceful day, as for on that day, the slate is wiped completely clean... Nothing hanging over your head, but the next day starts a new year.  The slate that was yesterday clean, is now, without even 24 hours passing has new things written on it.  Just thinking about it and the guilt that it brings is exhausting to me.

THANK YOU, GOD FOR JESUS!!!!

For under the OLD System of Sacrifice
-was temporary (Heb. 8:13)
NEW
-is permanent (Heb. 7:21)

OLD-Aaron was the first high priest (Lev. 16:32)
NEW-Jesus is the only High Priest (Heb. 4:14)

OLD-ministered on earth (Heb. 8:4)
NEW-ministered in heaven (Heb. 8:1-2)

OLD-used the blood of animals (Lev. 16:15)
NEW-uses the blood of Christ (Heb. 10:5)

OLD-Required many sacrifices (Lev. 22:19)
NEW- Requires one sacrifice (Heb. 9:28)

OLD-Required careful approach to the tabernacle (Lev. 16:2)
NEW-Encourages confident approach to the throne (Heb. 4:16)

OLD-looked forward to a new system (Heb. 10:1)
NEW-sets aside the old system (Heb. 10:9)

I hope you will join me in thanking God for a sacrifice "once and for all" (Hebrews 10:10) in Jesus Christ our Savior?  Because of Jesus, my sin slate is FOREVER clean.  Jesus, thank you that you are the scapegoat for every sin I have ever committed, in the past, in the present, and in the future.  I love You with an inexplainable love.