Easter Week Devotion by Barbara Baker
Aaron shall lay hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all the transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man.
Leviticus 16:21
There is a lot we can learn from Old Testament practices. The ritual described in these verses, known as the Day of Atonement, took place every year to mark the day for Israelites to repent, forgive, be charitable, and change their fate.
The Day of Atonement is noted as the highest and most important of celebrations. Laying sins and transgressions on a scapegoat and sending it into the far wilderness was of paramount importance in order to be cleansed.
Praise God that we no longer have to repeatedly confess our sins over a live goat and banish it to the wilderness to be cleansed from our sins. Jesus, The Lamb of God, became our scapegoat for eternity when He died on the Cross for us.
Because of the Resurrection and the Empty Tomb, we have forgiveness once and for al. All sins were covered and forgiven with the precious blood of our Lord on the Cross. And one day He will return to establish His Kingdom, where we wil share eternity with our Lord and all the saints.
Revelation 21:3 says, “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shal be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’”
Praise God for Jesus, the precious Lamb of God, and the Empty Tomb that gives the promise of eternity spent with Him to all who believe.
Jesus loves you! Me, too!