By His stripes we are healed

Under Levitical law before the coming of our Savior, the high priest would, on the tenth day of the seventh month, have a day of atonement, known as Yom Kippur. This was a time of national fasting and repentance, whereby two goats were brought before the high priest, both of which were to be identical (Leviticus 23:27). Two red threads were tied around their necks, and one would be offered unto the Lord, while the second would be brought to a mountain called ‘Mount of Azazel’, where it would be pushed off a cliff. There was a red marker which was nailed on the outside of the temple door, and once the goat plummeted to its death, the color supernaturally turned white.

The reason I mention this is because the three markers, the sin offering, the ‘scapegoat’, and the temple door, represent Jesus on the cross along with the two men next to him. Jesus of course represents the goat who was slain on the altar, Barnabas, the criminal who died unrepentant of his sins represents the goat who fell from the mountain, and the thief who called upon Jesus is the marker which turned from red to white. I believe this is what Isaiah is talking about when he says : “ Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (1:18).
I plan on writing more about how important communion is to our growing closer to Christ, which is why I write this. I was very enthused to experience in our leader’s meeting yesterday a new humility in us to come before God and ask for guidance from Him. All of creation is longing, and we should be too. How very sad that rocks, trees, dirt, and fish could be longing ‘for His unveiling of power’ more than most of the ~6.3 billion people in this world! Just think, there is purported to be ~42% of America who is Christian; if we brought just one person to Jesus this year it would be double that, 84%! Let us remember how significant that is the next time we feel hopeless!