The Goat Has left The Building | Hot Mess, Holy God - Part 5 | Ben Cachiaras

·40 min·3 clips

A live goat named Nibbles becomes the 'Azazel' scapegoat, symbolically carrying away sins in a dramatic ritual.

Ben Cachiaras opens the Easter sermon by greeting the multi-campus congregation and framing the resurrection as a hinge point of history. He immediately extends an invitation for personal change and baptism, emphasizing it as a day for leaving burdens behind. To illustrate the concept of 'baggage,' he recounts a detailed, humorous story about his family's stressful experience at the Philadelphia airport on Christmas Day 23 years ago, laden with excessive luggage and children. This story serves as a metaphor for the spiritual and emotional burdens people carry, such as regrets, shame, guilt, and pain. Cachiaras then transitions to teaching from Leviticus, specifically chapter 16 on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). He explains the ritual where the high priest would sacrifice one goat to cover sins and send a second goat, the scapegoat (Azazel), into the wilderness to symbolically carry away the people's sins. A live goat named Nibbles is brought on stage for a visual demonstration, with Cachiaras explaining how sins were transferred via laying on of hands and a red cord. He connects this Old Testament practice to Jesus, arguing that Jesus became both goats: sacrificed on the cross and taking sins away as the scapegoat. Cachiaras highlights moments from Jesus' passion, like the crown of thorns creating a 'red ring' and the crowd shouting 'Take him away' (Azazel), to reinforce the typology. The sermon shifts to an altar call, urging listeners to transfer their baggage to Jesus. Cachiaras then focuses on baptism as the New Testament physical response, explaining its symbolism of burial and resurrection with Christ. He spends significant time answering common questions about baptism: when to do it (immediately upon belief), why (Jesus commanded it, and it's a sign of new life), who should (anyone ready for a new life), and how (by immersion). He addresses practical concerns like towels, clothing, and family absence, encouraging spontaneous baptism. The episode concludes with a prayer and an invitation for movement to baptismal pools across campuses.

As heard by us

A memorable resurrection sermon uses the scapegoat image to make guilt, release, and baptism feel concrete.

This single-episode review frames the resurrection as a turning point for guilt, shame, blame, and the baggage people keep carrying. It follows the message from the Day of Atonement, where two goats stand for sacrifice and removal, into a more immediate demonstration with…

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Why you'd press play

Press play when resurrection faith needs a live goat, a clear scapegoat image, and a reason to stop passing blame.

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