Were you ever wrongly blamed for something you didn’t do? You were a scapegoat—a person or group made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place.
If so, you are in good company. Famous scapegoats in history abound. For example, Rasputin was blamed for the Russian Revolution and the destruction of the Romanov dynasty. Yoko Ono was vilified as causing the breakup of the Beatles. And last, the sinking of the Titanic was attributed solely to J. Bruce Ismay, the chairman and managing director of the White Star Line, even though multiple people and conditions contributed to the maritime disaster.
The story of one of the most famous scapegoats in history is the best news ever.
History of the scapegoat
Though the word scapegoat is for a person wrongly blamed for something, the origin of the word comes from an actual goat in the Bible.
Scripture says, “He [Aaron] is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat (Leviticus 16:8-10).
On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, two identical goats were chosen. One was sacrificed (for the Lord) and one was let free into the wilderness (the scapegoat). A red strip of cloth tied to its horns represented the sins of the people. In this way, the scapegoat carried the sins of the people away, cleansing Israel of sin for another year.
The final scapegoat
The Jewish people repeated the ritual of the sacrifices and the scapegoat year after year on Yom Kippur. Neverending. One year after another. However, the best news ever is Jesus became the final scapegoat. Consider Jesus similar to both goats. He was the blood sacrifice by his death on the cross, the sin offering. But he also took the sins of the world away himself as the scapegoat. Once and for all.
When two men appeared before Pilate, one to be crucified and one to be set free, he did not realize the significance that the two men had the same name. (Barabbas called Jesus Barabbas in some Bible translations) Both Jesus and Barabbas bore the name “Son of the Father.” (In Hebrew, Bar means son of and Abba means father.) So, two men, identical in name, presented to Pilate. Comparable to the two goats presented to the High Priest on Yom Kippur (Mark 15:6-11) (Matthew 27:15-17).
The High Priest Caiaphas thought it best to sacrifice Jesus to save the people from the Romans. However, he did not realize Jesus came to earth as a human, identical to us, to become the final scapegoat. To die for the people, not to save the people from Roman tyranny but to save all mankind from their sins.
Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (John 11:47-50).
Just like the two identical goats chosen on Yom Kippur; two convicted men with the name “Son of the Father.” One man—Son of God the Father—came to earth as a man identical to us. Beaten, tortured, sacrificed, and crucified for the sins of all people. And the other one, named Barabbas set free. Because Jesus became the final scapegoat and sacrifice, we also are free. Free from shame and guilt. Free from eternal death.
Why this is the best news ever
Above all, we will never be good enough on our own. Never. We cannot earn our salvation. No matter how hard we work at it.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
In conclusion, by grace, Jesus became the final scapegoat and sacrifice. He came to earth as a man, human in every way. Therefore, we are identical to Jesus. Barabbas bore the name “Son of the Father.” Jesus died in his place and also in our place.
It’s not only good news, but it’s also the best news ever!
