There is another beautiful symbolism in Jesus being led out of the city gate, and it has to do with what the Jews consider the holiest day of the year: the Yom Kippur or “Day of Atonement.”
Read about the origin of this feast from from the Book of Leviticus. No need to read this lengthy and detailed passage prayerfully. Just pay attention to how this Jewish rite involves two goats.
[scribd id=305852786 key=key-5x3zduwKfIz09CrIy7iF mode=scroll]
Note: If you can’t see the slideshow, just read the text here:
[5] And Aaron shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel
two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
[6] And Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself,
and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
[7] Then he shall take the two goats,
and set them before the LORD at the door of the tent of meeting;
[8] and Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats,
one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Aza’zel.
[9] And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD, and offer it as a sin offering;
[10] but the goat on which the lot fell for Aza’zel
shall be presented alive before the LORD
to make atonement over it,
that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Aza’zel.
[15] Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering
which is for the people, and bring its blood within the veil,
and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull,
sprinkling it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat;
thus he shall make atonement for the holy place,
because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel,
and because of their transgressions, all their sins;
and so he shall do for the tent of meeting,
which abides with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.
[20] 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;
[21] and Aaron shall lay both his hands
upon the head of the live goat,
and confess over him all the iniquities of the people of Israel,
and all their transgressions, all their sins;
and he shall put them upon the head of the goat,
and send him away into the wilderness
by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
[22] The goat shall bear all their iniquities
upon him to a solitary land;
and he shall let the goat go in the wilderness.
Image source: monergism.com