Scapegoat

 The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
Leviticus 16:22 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/lev.16.22.ESV

This seems a very archaic tradition described in this verse. Yet even nowadays, we talk about scapegoats, and this is what this verse refers to. We need a divine Scapegoat.

Clearly, a banished goat can't literally bear all our sinful stains upon itself. Instead, it is a picture of what Christ Himself did. He who was rich beyond all splendour, all for love's sake became so poor, so that we, through His poverty, might become rich.

Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, yet He passed the test with flying colours and went on to deliver His people from our sins. Like a Scapegoat, Jesus gave His life so that we can be accepted by God. He took the blame so that we can be justified.

Goats symbolise those who will be punished by God for their wrongdoing. Jesus became like that for us, dying on the cross so that we can go free. We can become sheep, part of God's flock, with Him as our Good Shepherd.

'Good Shepherd of our souls, help us trust in Christ as our Scapegoat. Thank You that He took the blame for our wrongdoing so that we don't have to, in His name, amen'

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