1 Peter 3:13-18
(Use the link below to
read the verses.)
While
my daughter was in high school she played on the softball team. One particular
game still sticks in my mind. I was sitting in the bleachers directly behind
home plate. Standing nearby, was the father of the pitcher on my daughter’s
team. Throughout the whole game, he had constantly berated the home plate
umpire.
Finally,
no doubt tired of listening to his personal castigation, the umpire wheeled
around, looked straight at me and said, “If you don’t shut up, I’m going to
kick you out”! I was dumb founded, and was unable to respond. The Dad who was
the guilty party, also didn’t say anything. Shortly thereafter however, he
left.
I
didn’t choose to take the guilty dad’s spot on the hot seat. Given the
opportunity, I wouldn’t have chosen it either. I didn’t know him. I didn’t like
his berating of the umpire. He was a very negative person who seemed intent on taking
the fun out of the whole game for everyone. Why would I choose to take his punishment?
21 He (Aaron)
is to lay both hands on the head of the
live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the
Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the
goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. Leviticus 16 NIV
This
ceremony, was a major part of the tradition of Israel on the Day of Atonement.
By doing this, the goat would symbolically take all of the sins of Israel upon
it. He became the “scapegoat”. He was chosen for this role. He didn’t choose to
do it.
However,
Jesus did choose to do it. He was the righteous one taking the punishment
deserved by the unrighteous. Who does that? What motivates someone to willingly
fulfill the role of the scapegoat?
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never
sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered
physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. NLT
This
verse tells us that Jesus willingly took our place; took our sins; became the
scapegoat. He did this to “bring you
safely home to God”. What an amazing picture to remember during this Easter
season – the best day of the year.
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