A scapegoat, according to my dictionary, is a person or a group that is made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place. That is what we usually know, someone who will bear the consequence of another even if that someone did not have anything to do with the cause of the consequence.
But did we know that the term scapegoat came from the Bible? Check out the scrupture below:
The scapegoat in this case, will ceremonially bear the sins of the people of Israel and the Israelites will be made right with the Lord. This happens once a year during the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest will enter the tabernacle and go through the purification process.
This was how it was in ancient Israel. This command was given to them while the people were wandering in the wilderness and when they occupied Canaan.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we always had a scapegoat? Someone we can blame for all the mistakes that we make? In that way, we won’t have to feel awkward, guilty or defensive. Yeah right.
But you know what? Jesus was our scapegoat. He took upon Himself the sins of the world so that we maybe reconciled with God. Have you thought about that? When Jesus died on the cross that day, He became our scapegoat so that we may have a chance to be right with God. He took on the blame so that you and I may have eternal life.
My friend, you may say that you know Jesus, but do you know what He did for you? REALLY? Does that knowledge affect you in any way? How so? Does it anger you? Does it make you regret all the sins you have committed? If it did, there is only one way to deal with such a feeling: get to know Jesus. Really know Jesus. In a personal and intimate manner, minus all the tradition, superstition, biases and all the useless things that man had to come up with. Do that and Jesus would not be your scapegoat anymore, He would be you Savior.
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