Have you heard anyone use the word “scapegoat” outside the church? In common conversation, a scapegoat is someone who is made to bear the blame of others. “The team fired its manager,” a sportswriter might explain, “making him a scapegoat for the players’ failure to perform in the clutch.” Have you ever been made to be a scapegoat? Have you ever made someone a scapegoat for you?
As many of you know, the word scapegoat is introduced in the Old Testament. During the Day of Atonement, Aaron the high priest would lay his hands on the head of a live goat and confess the sins of the people of Israel. This scapegoat was then released into the wilderness, symbolically bearing the sins of the Jews and carrying them away from the presence of God. As Psalm 130:12 rejoiced, “As far as the east is from the west, so far does [the Lord] remove our transgressions from us.” In the New Testament, Jesus is our supernatural Scapegoat, who actually did bear all our sin away from us and from the presence of God . . . bearing them away as far as the east is from the west. As he hung on the cross, Jesus was released into the awful wilderness of the wrath of God.
The difference between the Old Testament scapegoat and the New Testament “Scapegoat” is the first one was a symbol (theologians use the word type) pointing to the ultimate substance (or reality). The live goat simply pointed to the supernatural Scapegoat who would finally and fully remove our guilt and sin.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.
(Romans 4:8)
Christian, do you really believe this incredible truth penned by the apostle Paul? The awareness of our own sin, which brings with it both pain and shame, often seems to block us from receiving and resting in this truth. Yet this is the only place we can find rest for our souls and recharging for our batteries of service, holiness, godliness, and obedience. As long as we believe that our sin separates us from the love of God, any obedience we achieve will always be a result of duty and obligation, not a response of gratitude and love.
The blood of your supernatural Scapegoat, our great Redeemer, Jesus Christ, cleanses you from all unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:9). You sins have been removed from you, “as high as the heavens are above the earth” (Psalm 130:11), a distance which simply cannot be measured! Receive it that truth! Rest in it! Respond to it with a heart that overflows with love and thanksgiving for the supernatural Scapegoat, who on the cross won for you both freedom from guilt and faithfulness to God.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 