April 2023
Nougat 9
Today’s Holy Nougat
“The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! [Exod. 12:3; Isa. 53:7.]” John 1:29 AMPC
“Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”” John 11:25-26 NLT
The first time John lays eyes on his grown cousin, he identifies him as the Messiah: God’s promised Lamb, the One Who was called to be the world’s scapegoat. (See the nougat on Feb 23 – a scapegoat was the selected goat on which the collective sins of the community were placed. It was then released on the outskirts of town on a cliff to die.). Not only did he identify Him as Messiah; but John also confirmed that Jesus was the One for Whom he was bearing witness.
John the Baptizer’s entire ministry was dedicated to pointing to Jesus’ purpose – redemption of sins. But, here’s the rub: a scapegoat’s purpose was to die – on behalf of the community. It bore the weight of a year’s individual and collective sin, which might have been what killed it. And the next year, the ritual was repeated. For it was the scapegoat’s death that delayed eternal death for each member of God’s chosen community who had sinned: whether knowingly or unknowingly!
But Jesus, our Scapegoat, is the Lamb of God, and so His purpose is slightly different:
Jesus *bore ALL the sin of the entire world*
Once and for all time
Past, Present and Future;
for Jews and Gentiles!
Whether we receive Him as the Lamb or not
There on the outskirts of town, on a hill (cliff) He cried Father forgive them … and when He died, like the scapegoat, the World’s sins were buried with Him. Unlike the scapegoat however, Jesus rose from death to offer us an alternative to eternal Death: Eternal Life! Because the story didn’t end with Death. It cannot end at Death – total separation from God’s presence. Not for those who believe!
I know we’ve had moments like Jesus’ disciples – that long, oppressive Sabbath. I know we’ve had our John and Martha moments, wondering where Jesus is in our death-dealing situations.
I know some of us have even been that guy on the neighboring cross – save yourself And Us!!!, not quite scoffing but not entirely joking either.
I know some of us are there right now; and Jesus is saying to each of us;
“Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.”
Do we believe this? Dare we believe that we are factored in the Passover – from Eternal Death to Eternal Life because of Jesus?
Only you can answer that …
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May all we seek be found in Christ