(Leviticus 16:5-10; 20-22)....."THANK GOD FOR THE GOAT!"
We have some goat-farmers who come to this church (Harold & Bud).  We had a few goats around when the children were little, and they got into everything!  I never have had an interest in goats...but this one I AM INTERESTED IN!!
Jesus came to lift our burden and to carry it away from His people forever. He is the GOAT of this scripture in a type.  In this passage, we are given the guidelines for carrying out the annual Day of Atonement. This was the highest and holiest day on the Jewish religious calender. It was on this day that the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the people. Another vital part of the rituals of the day was the sending away of the scapegoat. This symbolized the taking away of the sin of the people. -(Jesus Christ has done in perfection what this Old Testament ritual could only do in symbol.)
We are familiar with scapegoats in our culture. We see them all the time, especially in politics. Someone will make a mistake, and another person will step forward to carry the blame. Sometimes, criminals claim that they are nothing more than a scapegoat.  They want us to believe that they are innocent and that people have just transferred the blame to them because they were handy. The idea of a scapegoat is not a new one. In fact, the idea originated with God.
(1)-(v.5-8)- TWO GOATS ARE SELECTED
A. Their Source - "Of the congregation" -*These goats were ordinary goats. They were not held to the same requirements as other offerings. They did not stand out as being special.   (Isa.53:2-" For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him").
B. Their Sanctification - *The goats were presented to the Lord and were deemed holy. (1 Peter 2:22-"[21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.")
C. Their Selection - (The casting of lots.) 
1. The Lord's Goat - Was to serve as an atoning sacrifice. (Ill. Christ's death on the cross atoned for all the sin of the world, even the lost man's!) (1 John 2:2-"Jesus Christ the righteous: (is)
is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.")
2. The Living Goat - Was to serve as a substitute for the people. It symbolized the removal of their sins. (Ill. Christ's blood paid for all sin, but He only becomes the substitute for those who receive Him by faith!)
(2)-(v.9)- ONE GOAT IS SACRIFICED
A. The Pain - (Ill. The brutality of the process!) 
B. The Purpose - To atone for sin! It takes blood to deal with sin -(Rom.6:23-"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.")
C. The Picture - Every single goat that was killed throughout the history of Israel pointed ahead in time to that glorious day when Jesus our Savior was crucified for the sins of the world.

(3)-(v.10, 20-22)- ONE GOAT IS SENT AWAY
It took 2 goats to adequately portray what Jesus was able to do all alone! (Note: The first goat speaks of Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross to propitiate God and pay man’s sin debt. The second goat speaks of the results of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, i.e. the removal of all the sins of those who trust Jesus by faith!)
(v.21a)- Sin is Transferred -  What was confessed was:
1. Iniquity - This word means “bent or crooked”, and refers to the bent in human nature toward sin.
2. Transgression - This word means “rebellion, or to step over a boundary”. This word deal with our violations of God’s holy Law and commandments.
3. Sin - This word means “to miss, or to fall short”. It describes our inability to ever fully measure up to God.  All these were confessed, all were taken away! Jesus came to deal with every form of evil! Because sin is gone, we can be called God’s children.
(v.21b-22)- Sin is Taken Away - (The true work of the scapegoat was purely symbolic, no sin was actually removed. It was faith that saved the sinner.)
JESUS-THE FIT MAN!!!---A “Fit Man” finished the job of leading the goat away by himself.  Flag man were set up along the way to signal back until word arrived in the camp of Israel that their sins had been taken away! -The "Fit Man" - (Ill. Fit = able, ready, timely) He had some characteristics that are worthy of notice. He was to be:
1. One who knew the way to the wilderness.           2. One who was able to endure to the end.        3. One who was able to withstand the ordeal - Loneliness, fatigue, thirst, isolation.                       4. One would not stop short of the goal.          5. One who could find his way back again.         6. Jesus fits the bill! He is the fit man! He is fit to be your Savior! 
Conc: Have your sins been transferred to Heaven's scapegoat?  If so, you should be thankful!!!