The Day of Atonement
Read Leviticus 16:20-22
Today’s Truth
All the iniquities, all the transgressions, all the sins were placed upon the head of this goat. The goat is a picture of Jesus: He is represented as satisfying the heart of God for us and rendering God free to love us without any restraint at all by his justice. God's justice has been satisfied. He is free to forgive us at any time and to love us. Christ also bears the whole weight and load of our guilt, all that which the Devil tries to use as a basis upon which to ground his accusations against us. All this is to be sent back to him from whence it comes. When our Lord died he went into the wilderness of death like this goat, and returned to Satan all the accusations which he has against any believer at any time.
Discussion Questions
- How does the concept of a scapegoat apply to our modern understanding of responsibility and forgiveness?
- In what ways does the ritual of atonement emphasize the severity of sin?
- In what ways can we seek spiritual purification in our daily lives, reflecting the essence of these ancient rituals?
Application
Does this incredibly awesome picture of Jesus -- as the 'scapegoat' bearing our sin and guilt--cause us to worship, with unending gratitude? Have we even begun to grasp the magnitude of this gift of pure Grace?
