Scapegoat!

For Thursday, March 13, 2025:

Leviticus 16:26 NLT: The Lord said to Moses, “The man chosen to drive the scapegoat into the wilderness of Azazel must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water. Then he may return to the camp.”

On the day of Atonement, a priest of the Israelites would symbolically place everyone’s sins on the head of a goat, and drive that animal so far into the wilderness that it could not return. The object was to separate the people from sin. This is where we get the word “scapegoat.” The goat had done nothing wrong but was paying the penalty for the Israelite’s sins.

In a way, Jesus is our scapegoat. He was sinless, but on the cross, he took the sins of the world upon himself, leaving believers pure and innocent, suitable to take up residence in God’s heavenly kingdom. This exchange is God’s free gift to those who honor the Son with their faith. This free gift is called “grace,” an undeserved gift.

Today is the best day to commit or re-commit ourselves to Jesus the Christ, the Son of God. We want to be found without sin when heaven opens its gates. We want to see heaven from the inside!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship