The only legitimate scapegoat

A scapegoat is a person or group that is made to bear blame for others. Scapegoating allows people to point their finger at others instead of accepting the consequences of their actions. These targets usually are outsiders who can be dehumanized. They might be in politics, religious groups, artists or in sports.

Even God has been scapegoated for people-problems with the idea that if God is perfect, why does he allow bad things to happen? One survey says two-thirds of Americans feel angry with God when they are suffering, or when they don’t get what they want.

Actually, scapegoat is a biblical term. In the Old Testament on the Day of Atonement, a priest confessed all the sins of the Israelites over the head of a goat and then drove it into the wilderness, symbolically bearing their sins away.

“And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:20–22)

While this seems odd to us, we need to realize that this ritual points to the greatest moment in history. The action of the OT priests and the bearing of sin by the scapegoat is a type or shadow that points to the future action of what God did with the sin of the world.

“(Jesus Christ) himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13–14)

“You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.” (1 John 3:5)

God put our sin on His Son, then sent Him to death and a grave, bearing our sin — as the ultimate scapegoat. While the image of a goat is not an appealing one, it gave the OT believers something visible as they trusted God for the Messiah to come. They knew that this ritual had to be repeated every year. What they may not have realized was that the Messiah would do it once — for all sin, for all time!

“And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:11–14)

Blame-shifters usually pick someone they see as weak and helpless. Jesus not only made Himself weak, but also took the blame, accepting the accusation so that we could go free. This was not so sinners could exonerate themselves, for none of us can do that; we are guilty. It was so we could have peace with God, the Holy One who must punish sin. However, no one can say that Jesus died for them without believing it with all their heart. Calling Jesus my scapegoat only means my freedom if I totally agree with Him about my sin and my need for a Savior.

And I do agree and believe — Jesus took my sin and removed it from me as far as the east is from the west. This amazing sacrifice changes everything. When I believed, He gave me a new heart, a new life. I’m not perfect (as He is perfect) but I am forgiven and blessed. I cannot and seldom think of Jesus as a scapegoat, but in all actuality, He is the only legitimate scapegoat that exists! Humanity did not put our guilt on Him; God the Father did, and Jesus willingly and humbly accepted it.

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Jesus, thank You for taking away my sin. Even more, thank You for giving me Your righteousness, even Yourself. I live an abundant life because You were willing to satisfy the wrath of God on my sin. I believe it, yet I still shake my head in wonder at the marvel of You and at all You have done.