DID YOU KNOW: on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a unique ceremony took place. The high priest would stand before the people with two goats at his side. Each goat had to be identical in appearance to the other. The high priest would then reach into an urn and pull out two lots, one in each hand. Each lot had a different Hebrew word inscribed on it. He then placed one lot on the head of the goat to his right, and another on the head of the goat to his left. One stone identified the goat that would die as the sacrifice for the sins of the people. The other identified the goat or scapegoat that would go free (Leviticus 16:7-10).

So before there could be a sacrifice, there had to be the presentation of the two goats before the people and the determination of the two destinies.

Does this ceremony apply to Jesus and His crucifixion that took place? He was presented before the people, for the choosing, for the determination of destinies. And there was two presented, and only one could become the sacrifice. And according to the ordinance of Yom Kippur, the other life had to be let go. So what happened to the other life that was presented that day? He was let go. And what was his name… Barabbas (Matthew 27:15-24)?

According to the requirements of the ancient ceremony, the two had to be identical. Jesus is the Son of God, the Son of the Father. Do you know what the name Barabbas means? Barabbas comes from two Hebrew words, bar, which means son, and abba, which means father. Barabbas means the Son of the Father. The two lives each bears the name the Son of the Father.

So, Jesus came to earth and lived like us, He was flesh and blood, in the likeness of man (Philippians 2:7). He became our identical, He was our willing sacrifice, slain so we could be set FREE.

LIVE TODAY as one sentenced to judgment, but was released and given FREEDOM because of the LOVE and SACRIFICE of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.