The scapegoat represents Christ — the One who takes the blame for sin and carries it away into the wilderness.
In the Day of Atonement ritual, one goat was sacrificed and its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat, while the second goat — the scapegoat — was kept alive, had the sins of Israel symbolically placed on it, and was led into the uninhabitable wilderness (Clip 0, Clip 2, Clip 6). Les Feldick teaches that Jesus fulfilled the scapegoat picture on the cross, especially during the three hours of darkness when He remained alive and suffered the punishment for all mankind's sin (Clip 7).
Leviticus 16:8-10 — This is the passage that describes the two goats of the Day of Atonement and the sending of the scapegoat into the wilderness.
Leviticus 16:8-10 gives the instruction for the two goats on the Day of Atonement. Aaron was to cast lots upon the two goats — 'one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.' The goat on which the LORD's lot fell was brought and offered for a sin offering, while the scapegoat was 'presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.' Matthew 27:45 records that at the crucifixion, 'from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.'
Les Feldick explains that a scapegoat is simply 'somebody who takes the blame for somebody else' (Clip 0, Clip 1). In the Day of Atonement ritual, Aaron cast lots over two goats: one was killed and its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat for the sins of Israel, while the other — the scapegoat — was presented alive. After the sacrificial work was complete, the High Priest symbolically placed all the sins of Israel upon the live goat, and it was taken out into the barren, untracked wilderness and let go (Clip 2, Clip 3, Clip 4, Clip 6). Les teaches that both goats are pictures of Christ. The slaughtered goat pictures the shedding of blood for sin, while the scapegoat pictures Christ carrying sins away. He identifies Jesus as the scapegoat during the three hours of darkness on the cross: while His body hung on the cross, still alive, He stepped out of time in soul and spirit into eternity and suffered the punishment for all of mankind's sin (Clip 7). The Day of Atonement, Les says, was fulfilled when Christ went to the cross on our behalf (Clip 5).
The two goats had distinct roles. The goat chosen by the lot for the LORD was immediately killed, and its blood was used for sprinkling on the mercy seat behind the veil (Clip 6). The other goat was the scapegoat: it remained alive and was presented before the LORD, and on it the High Priest symbolically placed all the sins of Israel before it was sent into the wilderness (Clip 2, Clip 4, Clip 6).
Les teaches that the Day of Atonement is a picture of what Christ did at the cross (Clip 5). He points to Matthew 27 and the three hours of darkness between noon and 3 p.m., when Jesus was still alive on the cross. 'What do you think He becomes? I think the scapegoat,' Les says. The scapegoat was sent into the wilderness, and in those three hours Jesus stepped out of time in soul and spirit and suffered the punishment for all of mankind's sin (Clip 7).
Les describes the Judean wilderness as barren, uninhabitable, and 'God forsaken' — an unknown, untracked place (Clip 2). The live goat, with the sins of Israel symbolically placed on it, was taken alive into that wilderness and let go (Clip 2, Clip 3). This pictures sins being carried away from the people and out of view.
Casting Lots Over the Two Goats
Les defines the scapegoat as one who takes the blame for someone else and explains that Aaron cast lots to determine which goat would be killed and which would be the scapegoat sent alive into the wilderness.
The Scapegoat Takes the Blame
Les repeats the everyday meaning of a scapegoat — the one who takes the blame for the wrongs and sins of others — as he shows the two goats were distinguished by lot.
The Live Goat Sent Into the Wilderness
Les explains that the scapegoat, upon which the sins of Israel were symbolically placed, was taken alive into the barren, uninhabitable wilderness and let go.
The Day of Atonement Ritual Sequence
Les outlines the whole ritual: the high priest sprinkles blood on the mercy seat, then symbolically lays his hand on the scapegoat, which is taken out into the wilderness.
Sins Placed on the Scapegoat
After sprinkling the sacrificial goat's blood on the mercy seat, the High Priest symbolically laid the sins of Israel on the scapegoat.
The Day of Atonement as a Picture of Christ
Les sets up Leviticus 16 as a picture of how Christ fulfilled all of its images when He went to the cross on our behalf.
The High Priest's Exclusive Work
Les stresses that only the High Priest could enter behind the veil with blood and only he could lay hands on the scapegoat to place Israel's sins on it.
Jesus as the Scapegoat on the Cross
Les identifies Jesus with the scapegoat during the three hours of darkness: still alive on the cross, He stepped out of time in soul and spirit and suffered the punishment for all of mankind's sin.
Leviticus 16:8-10: And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
This is the core Old Testament instruction that defines the scapegoat and its role in the Day of Atonement ritual.
Matthew 27:45: Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Les points to this three-hour period of darkness as the time on the cross when Jesus fulfilled the scapegoat picture while still alive.
The scapegoat represents Christ. In the Day of Atonement the live goat had the sins of Israel symbolically placed on it and was sent into the wilderness, picturing sin being carried away. Les Feldick teaches that Jesus is the fulfillment of that picture, taking the blame for sin (Clip 0, Clip 2, Clip 7).
The scapegoat was kept alive and let go into the wilderness; the other goat was killed and its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat (Clip 0, Clip 1, Clip 6). Les notes that Jesus was still alive on the cross during the three hours of darkness, and it is then that he sees Jesus as the scapegoat (Clip 7).
The goat on which the LORD's lot fell was offered as a sin offering and its blood was applied to the mercy seat. The scapegoat was presented alive, received the symbolic weight of Israel's sins, and was taken into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:8-10; Clip 2, Clip 6).
Watch the Teaching: What the Day of Atonement Really Pictured — Finally Explained