TWO GOATS

Last week, I heard one of the best explanations of the gospel. Mark Driscoll (pastor of Mars Hill church in Seattle) spoke about the double nature of what Christ accomplished for us at the cross. He related it back to the old testament Day of Atonement, which was the bloodiest day of the Jewish year.

[As a side note, he explained why he thought God used blood as a symbol for sin. He said that the way we recoil and are disturbed when we see lots of blood is probably similar to God's reaction when He sees sin. So God relates blood to sin so that we can have a better idea of how horrendous sin is in His sight.]

So on the Day of Atonement, there were two goats. The first was the goat of sacrifice. The second, the scapegoat. The goat of sacrifice was led into the temple and the priest would lay his hand on the goat's head, pronouncing all the sins of the people for that year. He would then lift the goat's head and slit his throat, sending blood everywhere and ultimately, killing the goat. This first goat represented the payment for the people's sins. In Jesus' death, we understand that His blood paid the ultimate price for our sins. Because of Christ, God would consider our debt to Him paid. This concept, Mark Driscoll explained, is called propitiation.

The second goat (the luckier one, I think), was sent by the priest into the wilderness to wander. This was the scapegoat. The scapegoat represented the second element of redemption; an element that we often forget, or perhaps the enemy wants us to forget. The scapegoat represented the truth that once the sins were forgiven, God remembered them no more. Our slate is clean! We are counted righteous. In Revelation, we will all wear white. This concept is called expiation.

The beauty of the gospel is that in Christ's death, we receive both effects. Our sins are paid for and God considers us clean. Understanding this brought me so much joy! Mark Driscoll gave an example of a woman who has been abused. We cannot simply tell her to confess her sins because Jesus paid for them. She has been sinned against. The good news of Jesus is that His death cleanses her even from the sins others have done to her. She is made whole. Entirely whole. What hope we have in Jesus Christ!!

I know a place, a wonderful place
Where accused and condemed find mercy and grace
Where the wrongs we have done
And the wrongs done to us
Were nailed there with Him, there on the cross.
At the cross, He paid for my sin
At the cross, He gave us life again.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
~1 John 1:9~