The Scapegoat

1 Peter 3:13-18

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A13-18&version=NIV;NLT

 

 

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.

 

 

Are You a Chicken or a Pig?

John 15:18-25

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015%3A18-25&version=NIV;ESV

 

Question: In a bacon and egg breakfast, what's the difference between the chicken and the pig?

Answer: The chicken is involved, but the pig is COMMITTED!

 

On January 8, 1956, Jim Elliot and four other missionaries, were killed by members of the Auca Indians in Ecuador. They had landed their plane to make friendly contact with the tribe.

 

On April 20, 1999, Rachel Scott was the first student to be shot and killed in the Columbine High School massacre. One of the shooters asked her if she still believed in God. When Rachel answered him that she did, he killed her.

 

Although very different circumstances, these six people died because of their faith in Christ. They were fully committed! There have been many other Christian martyrs during the past two thousand years. In fact, according to an April 14, 2017 Fox News report, as many as 90,000 Christians each year are martyred.

 

Jesus spoke the following words to his disciples as he prepared them for what was to come. He seems to be saying, get ready to be martyred for following me.

 

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.     ESV

 

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples at a specific moment in time and in history. What do they mean to us today? Should we expect to be martyred? And if we’re not, does that mean we’re not following Christ? I don’t believe so.

 

For sure, Rachel Scott did not anticipate that on that day she would lose her life because she said that she believed in God. She was being obedient to Christ. That is what we are called to do regardless of whether it means going to the jungles of Ecuador, the hallways of your high school or the office at your job.

 

So, the question is: Are you a chicken or are you a pig? Are you fully committed to follow Christ or just involved?

 

 

 

Why God?

Genesis 39:13-23

 

In this story, Joseph finds himself between a rock and a hard place. If he gives in to the aggressive advances of his bosses’ wife, he betrays the trust of Potiphar and sins

against God. On the other hand, if he resists Potiphar’s wife, he runs the risk of finding the truth of the saying, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”.

 

From the text we read that he did indeed resist her, but with apparently disastrous consequences as Potiphar’s wife makes up a boldface lie. Here’s how the Living Bible states it.

 

¹² …she came and grabbed him by the sleeve demanding, “Sleep with me.” He tore himself away, but as he did, his jacket slipped off and she was left holding it as he fled from the house. ¹³ When she saw that she had his jacket, and that he had fled, ^14-15 she began screaming; and when the other men around the place came running in to see what had happened, she was crying hysterically. “My husband had to bring in this Hebrew slave to insult us!” she sobbed. “He tried to rape me, but when I screamed, he ran, and forgot to take his jacket.”

 

 

Joseph was in a situation where he could have easily cried out, “Why God? Why did you

let me be thrown into prison even though I was being faithful to you? Why did you let my brothers sell me into slavery bringing me to this god-forsaken place? Why have you turned your back on me? Why God?”

 

You may have cried out like this yourself at some time.


“Why God did you let our child die? Why did I lose my job when I have a family to provide for? Why did you let my marriage fall apart? Why did our house burn to the ground? Why did my spouse contract cancer? Why do I struggle with this addiction? Why God?”

 

And yet, being thrown into prison was not the end of the story for Joseph. Although he could have responded by turning away from God or dwelling on his desperate

circumstance, he didn’t. Instead he remained faithful to God, and was eventually placed in charge of the whole prison. God didn’t forget him. God didn’t leave him. God had a plan even in the midst of hopeless circumstances.

 

Therefore, the next time you find yourself in a situation where you are crying out “Why God”; remember this. God is in control and He is always at work in your life drawing you towards Him. He is always with you. He loves you unconditionally and nothing can separate you from His love.

 

 

He has a plan for your life and is faithful.