Galatians 5:19,20,21,22,23,24 I have a choice.
Often the impression is that the scapegoat deserved what has happened. The scapegoat is actually an emissary and innocent.
Just as Jesus was the scapegoat, God needs credible mediators of the gospel.
A scapegoat is:
- not the cause of the sins of the people.
- innocent.
- the chosen remedy for the sins of the people.
- the goat that survived and was released alive.
Matthew 6:9,10,11,12,13 What is the heavenly condition? A place without sin. What is on earth should be as it is heaven.
Sin is a conflict.
Sin is a conflict between two parties (another person or God) that results in a violation of God’s law. It’s a supernatural crime. It demands supernatural mercy or punishment. It cannot be resolved by a natural mediator or couselor.
Israel committed offenses against God during year. One day a year they performed a ritual to visually demonstrate “I take responsibility for my part and acknowledge God is my authority.”
Daniel 9:4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19 Daniel acknowledged the sin of his people. He wasn’t at fault but he took responsibility.
If the scapegoat was guilty, he wouldn’t be an effective mediator. A mediator is someone who has not taken sides; they are neutral and have authority and credibility. This is why Jesus was the supreme scapegoat.
Luke 22:42 Jesus was already experiencing the weight of the sins of the world. He doesn’t recuse Himself from any problems.
If I don’t want to face my part in the conflict, I may try to make the other person the villain or cause of the problem.
Identity politics, or tribal politics, tends to assign problems to a scapegoat. By definition, this means that party is innocent and made guilty by the actions of others. Only Jesus can unite humanity; all other identities divide. I can care about and have an opinion about issues or identities, but can I move in and out of “tribes” while offending none?
