| Author | Message | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 987 Registered: 8-2008 |
During last Sunday's sermon, the Pastor spoke on Matthew 21:28-32. The context of the parable is the ministry of John the Baptist. The pastor mentioned John's proclamation of Jesus (and one of my favorite texts), "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29). What interests me about John's statement is that I cannot help but see it as a direct reference to the Day of Atonement rites. In the Day of Atonement, one goat was "chosen by lot for YHWH" (Lev. 16:9). Regarding the other goat, the azazel or scape-goat, the Bible states:
This goat literally took away the sins of the community, carrying them away into the wilderness. It seems to me that in calling Jesus "the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world," John was stating that Jesus is the fulfillment of both of the goats of the Day of Atonement ritual, the one for YHWH, and the one who carries away the sins. This stands in contrast to the false idea we believed in SDAism, that Satan, not Jesus, was the one who took away the sins of the world. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13873 Registered: 12-2003  |
Brent, I agree. I believe John was saying that...Jesus takes our sins away two ways, in a sense: He atones for them as a propitiation for God's wrath, and He carries them in His own flesh away from us. It's amazing..and when you actually think through the implications of calling Satan the scapegoat, it's unavoidable: that's a really dark, unchristian doctrine. It makes Satan the final sin-bearer. It makes him the tragic hero of salvation. Nonsense! Colleen |
