Year of the Bible: Part Three of Twelve Sample

The Scapegoat.

The sacrificial system that God put in place had two primary goals. The first goal was for God's chosen people to participate in daily and annual activities that remind them of their need for God and to remind God of His promise to redeem them from their willful sins against Him. The second goal was to set up the picture of who the Messiah would be and what He would do when He arrived.

There are two goats in this passage. One goat was killed for the sins of the people, and its blood was placed on the Mercy Seat of the Ark before God. The second goat was the scapegoat. The priests would symbolically put the people's sins on the goat and release it into the wild. It would then escape the death that sin requires and go on to live a full life free from the consequences of the sins that were placed on it. The blood of the first goat was placed on the Mercy Seat and symbolized atonement [payment for sin and forgiveness] for Israel's violation of God's law.

These are examples of God's far-reaching plan to redeem all of humankind. Jesus, the Messiah of God, would become both the "sacrificial goat" and the "scapegoat ." Jesus would die, and His blood would cleanse all who come to Him of their sins.

Today, the blood of Jesus has paid the entire price of sin for all who believe and receive Him. Tomorrow, we'll read more about this idea and what it means for you today.

Question: Have you considered the reality that your sins require death for payment? Have you acknowledged that Jesus died that death for you? Have you experienced the joy of escaping the penalty of your sins because Jesus paid them on your behalf?

Prayer Focus: If you answer yes to these questions, spend some time thanking Jesus for all that He has done for you.