Day 5

Read: 

Leviticus 16

Dig Deeper:

Can we learn something about Christ in Leviticus? If you've ever done a "Bible In A Year" reading plan, then you may be familiar with the dread associated with the book of Leviticus. It's full of old laws and rituals and can be a bit intimidating. But, when we scratch below the surface, we find that it is a treasure trove of beauty, promise, and foretelling of the Savior that was to come.

In today's reading, there's a lot of talk about goats, but just to recap the High Priest would take two goats. One would be killed as a sacrifice for the sins of the nation of Israel. The second goat would have all of the sins of the nation spoken over it, and then, it would be led out into the wilderness to an area considered to be under opposing supernatural forces to that of God.

Both of these goats are symbolic of Christ! That's why we call Jesus the GOAT.

The first goat is symbolic of Jesus being a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. When Jesus went up on that cross, He said, "It is finished." This meant that sin itself had been defeated through the perfect and ultimate sacrifice.

The second goat is symbolic of Christ not just being a sacrifice for our sins, but being a "sin bearer." Just like the goat, Jesus took on our sin. He wore it. He carried it. He understood it. And then, he sent our sin straight into the enemy camp! Jesus drove our sin to the place where it belonged--a one way ticket to the depths of Hell.

Jesus went where we couldn't go to do what we couldn't do so that we could be entirely free.

Declaration: Say this next statement out loud as a declaration of what you have learned today.

Jesus bore the weight of my sin and became a perfect sacrifice so that I could be free from my sin.

Pray:

God, thank you that you have made a way for me to be free from my sin. I am so grateful. Help me to honor Jesus' sacrifice for me by living a holy life--one that honors You. Help me to share the wonder of that sacrifice with the world around me. Amen.