“Lamb Of God Who Takes Away The Sin Of The World, Have Mercy On Me!”

“Lamb Of God Who Takes Away The Sin Of The World, Have Mercy On Me!”
Every year on the day of atonement Aaron the priest was 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 desert…The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert”(Lev.16:20-21).
One way or the other this innocent goat was to die in the desert , thus carrying with it the annual sins of the nation. It is from here that the concept of scapegoat was developed.
Jesus became the replacement for this old time ritual cleansing of sins. The difference is that a scapegoat of the old ritual was an innocent involuntary victim whereas Jesus was a voluntary and intentional cleansing animal. As he made his final trip to Jerusalem he predicted what had to befall him, but he had made up his mind.
The difference being that he was not going to wander and die in the wilderness like the annual scapegoats of old; because “three days later he will rise”(Mk.10:32-34).
He is the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”(Jn.1:29).
As we enter the forty day Lenten journey remember that he became a scapegoat for your sake. What have you done for him?
Prayer: Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world have mercy on me. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!