What does Leviticus 16 teach us about Christ?

Answer 1

Nowhere does Leviticus chapter 16 mention Jesus Christ, either by name or in any way by whcih he could be identified. Leviticus 16 simply describes a ritual for a sacrifice to be undertaken by the Jewish priests, written by the Priestly Source during the fifth century BCE. As such, it tells us much about the origins of Jewish ritual, but nothing at all about Christ.

Answer:

Leviticus 16 is a description of the ancient sacrificial ceremony of the "Day of Atonement," which is one of the Lord's seven "prophetic" annual Holy Days [see Lev.23:27-32].

These seven Holy Day observances picture the plan of God for man... each of which points to the Christ for its fulfillment [for instance; "...Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast..." - I Cor.5:7; see also Lev.23:5-8].

Unlike the other six Holy Days, however, the Day of Atonement isn't a "feast" day, or a day of eating, but a day of "fasting." In light of the many prophecies regarding the Messiah in The Bible, Leviticus 16 is an "encapsulation" of the entire salvation process of God.

1- The high priest's slaying of the goat pictures Christ's death.

"Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill Him." (Matt.26:3-4)

2- The high priest then takes the "blood of the goat" into the Most Holy place to intercede to God [the Father] for the sins of the people. This pictures the "risen Christ" ascending into heaven.

"...that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Heb.2:17)

"...consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus..." (Heb.3:1).

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb.4:14-16)

"...even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Heb.6:20)

3- After a time of reconciliation in the Most Holy place... the high priest "returns to the people"... which pictures Christ's return from heaven to earth after all the centuries of His absence.

"...the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travelling into a far country... after a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them." (Matt.25:14-19)

"For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left His house, and gave authority to His servants, and to every man his work... Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh..." (Mark 13:34-35)

4- Then a "strong man" secures the other goat... and the high priest lays his hands [and all the sins of the people] upon the head of the goat. And the goat is led away into the wilderness, away from the people. This pictures Satan's captivity by an angel of God at Jesus' return, and his banishment from having any more influence over the nations of the world for the duration of Jesus thousand year rule on earth.

"...I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the Dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled..." (Rev.20:1-3).

The Day of Atonement pictures Christ's death, resurrection, ascension into heaven, His return to earth and the banishment of Satan and his influence in the world during His thousand year rule.

The Day of Atonement, like all the other Holy Day observances of God [Lev.23], are rich in teaching us about Christ and the plan of God... and are all "Christ-centered."

Additional answer

We must also add here that the Levitical description of the Day of Atonement, where sacrifice is made, is a direct parallel with Jesus' sacrifice. In the New Covenant between God and humanity, the Old Covenant of the Levitical Law is superceded and atonement made soley through Jesus and no longer by ritualistic animal sacrifice. As Paul put it:

"For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all..." ( 1 Timothy 2:5-6)