Today’s reading: Lev 15:1–16:34, John 9:1–12, Song 7:5–9

Today’s theme: Jesus, our scapegoat

We see the vivid imagery of the scapegoat (scape from escape, therefore the goat who provides a way to escape), which find its fulfilment in Jesus, who takes away our sin and makes a way of escape for us. We also read about the day of atonement which Jesus fulfilled in His once for all, sacrificial death.

Leviticus 15:1–16:34

Sexual purity is important

“Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.” This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby; also for her who is unwell with her menstrual impurity, that is, for anyone, male or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a woman who is unclean. Leviticus 15:31–33 (ESV)

This no longer directly applies but we can learn from it that God takes our sexual purity seriously and addresses it often in the New Testament. see 2 Cor 12:21, Gal 5:19, Eph 5:3, Col 3:5

God’s holy presence

and the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. Leviticus 16:2 (ESV)

It is such a privilege that we can now come boldly before God’s throne of grace. Without Jesus, approaching God’s throne was a fearful and dangerous thing because God is holy and we are not.

Jesus, our scapegoat

but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel. Leviticus 16:10 (ESV)

Azazel means scapegoat but also speaks of the place in the wilderness that the goat would go to, never to be seen again, a symbolic sign of sin being taken away. Jesus was our scapegoat, taking sin away.

The smoke of incense

and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. Leviticus 16:13 (ESV)

The cloud of incense served a very practical (as well as ceremonial) purpose, it covered Aaron’s eyes so that he would not see God and die.

The day of Atonement, fulfilled

For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins. Leviticus 16:30 (ESV)

Jesus fulfilled the day of atonement on the cross.

John 9:1–12

Sovereign over disability

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3 (ESV)

God (not the devil) is sovereign over disability. God created those disabled, for His purposes and to display His work in them, sometimes resulting in their healing.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on John 9