Holy for the unholy
In Levitical law you would choose the firstborn, innocent, and ritualistically pure animal to have its blood shed for individual and corporate sin. The blood would be sprinkled on the mercy seat, on the High Priest, who advocated for the sins of the people via the sacrifice. (Leviticus 1-7)
The spotless, pure, and innocent animal would be sacrificed for the one deserving death. In effect, the innocent taking punishment for the guilty, the confessor acknowledging they deserve to die for their wickedness and rebellion, the animal is enduring what he should endure for his sin (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:22). The innocent was substituted for the guilty, imputed with the guilt of the sinner, dying the death deserved of the trespasser “the soul that sins shall surely die,” “ you disobey, you will die,” “I lay before you life and death, choose life.”(Ezekiel 18:20; Genesis 2:17; Deuteronomy 30:19).
This all was temporary, needing reapplication every year, reminding them continuously of their guilt before the Holy God. Even the High Priest would need to offer a sacrifice for themselves before advocating for the people. This demonstrates that the blood of bulls and goats was temporary and inferior, a foreshadow of the greater sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-18).
We see in Jesus a sacrifice that is superior to that of bulls and goats. John testified of Him as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit (John 1:29-34). We see a great High Priest who is also spotless and sinless, who sits forever at the right hand of the Father, having completed the perfect sacrifice for his people (Hebrews 10:12).
Jesus as the innocent, spotless, Lamb, set apart and pleasing to the Father, obeying all that is commanded, slayed and sacrificed on the cross. The innocent for the guilty, taking the wrath that is reserved for us. Our sins imputed to him, dying on the cross, nailed forever and removed by the perfect Judge (Galatians 2:19-21; Colossians 2:13-15). His righteousness is regarded as ours, declaring our innocence before the Throne. It is finished he declared on the cross, setting his people free from slavery to sin and death (Romans 6:1-7), giving them his righteousness, forever a priest after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:17)
He rose again, being the spotless Lamb of God, and declared his authority over all Heaven and Earth (Matthew 28:18-20), the One who is the just and the justifier of the ungodly. (Romans 3:25-27)
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