John 19:16 “Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified, so they took Jesus and led Him away”

 Implication
To Christians, both of these rites are regarded as a foreshadowing of (and must therefore find their ultimate meaning in) the future sacrificial Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Christians believe that, through dying on the cross, Christ not only “propitiated” God’s wrath over sin, but also “expiated” us from carrying the burden of sin, by actually doing away with it as Jesus-Christ-Our-Scapegoat.

 Propitiation:  By “propitiation” we come to understand the notion of “imputed righteousness”. We believe that even though we still remain sinners, from God’s perspective, we appear as being covered and shielded by “the righteousness of Christ” and are therefore “counted” as righteous!

 Expiation: By “expiation” on the other hand, we come to understand that we have actually been physically “cleansed” of our sins and thereby “made righteous”. Jesus does not just hide our sin but in fact completely removes them, enabling us to “appear righteous” in the eyes of God!

 Jesus, being both Jesus Christ “The Lords Goat”, as well as “Jesus-Christ-Our-Scapegoat”, therefore fulfilled both of these roles. He is our savior and our redeemer fulfilling both of these sacrificial roles, not because we deserve it, but out of His love for us! Ephesians 2:4-9

 
The Scapegoat

A foreshadow of Jesus-Christ-Our-Scapegoat

Jesus-Christ-Our-Scapegoat Crucified

  Jesus has been all night in agony, He had spent the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, He had been hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate; He had therefore, but little strength left, and yet neither refreshment nor rest were permitted Him. They were eager for His blood, and therefore led Him out to die, loaded with the cross.  “The old rugged cross”- This is the most beautiful song ever… I will always cherish the cross that Jesus died for me and all sinners.

 What do we learn here as we see our blessed Lord led forth? Do we not perceive that truth which was set forth in shadow by the scapegoat? Did not the high-priest bring the scapegoat, and put both his hands upon its head, confessing the sins of the people, that thus those sins might be laid upon the goat, and cease from the people? Then the goat was led away by a fit man into the wilderness, and it carried away the sins of the people, so that if they were sought they could not be found. 

 Now we see Jesus brought before the priests and rulers, who pronounced Him guilty; God himself imputes our sins to Him, “the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all;” “He was made sin for us;” and, as substitute for our guilt, bearing our sins upon his shoulders, represented by the cross; we see the great Scapegoat led away by the appointed officers of justice. Beloved, can you feel assured that He carried your sins?  As you look at the cross upon His shoulder, does it represent you sin? There is one way by which you can tell whether He carried your sin or not, and trusted.  Have you laid your hands upon His head, confessed your sins, and trust in Him? Then your sin lies not on you; it has all been transferred by blessed imputation to Christ, and He bears it on His shoulder a load heavier than the cross.

 Conclusion
Let not the picture vanish till you have rejoiced in your own deliverance, and adores the loving Redeemer upon whom your iniquities were laid. He paid the expensive price for our redemption, what no one can do, yes He paid it all.  However, Jesus did become sin and therefore, He became sickness that we might become holy and healthy and walk in His health. Jesus did not commit a sin to become sin. No, it was put upon Him by God the Father. Jesus walked in righteousness until the time of the cross, and there on the cross, He accepted to take the sins of the World upon Himself. We do not have to commit a righteous act to become righteous; we openly accept the righteousness of Jesus; it is a free gift. The work of the cross is the divine exchange. He exchanged our sins for His righteousness. We have become the righteousness of God! Glory be to God! Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest.

 Happy Easter Celebration.

 Dcn. Mike Ben