Easter Message - Remembering God's Love

As we approach the most important season of the Christian calendar, it is important to reflect on the true essence of our faith, and the Bible as our source of inspiration and the account of God’s love for us throughout the history of the world. Many people think of Jesus as the start and the end of the Christian narrative, yet the references to Christ’s death on the cross occur throughout the bible on many occasions. Indeed it is the symbolism that is often ignored that we need to understand as we see how symbolic Christ’s death on the cross really is.

In Leviticus, Chapter 16, we read that God instructed Moses and his brother Aaron to select two goats every year for an offering. One was used as a sin offering to atone for the sins of the people. Once killed, the blood of the goat was sprinkled on the seat of the alter, so that God would have mercy on the people and forgive their sins. The second goat was allowed to live, but the high priest would lay his hands on the head of the goat and confess the sins of the people. This goat would then bear the blame for the transgressions of the people and would be set free into the wilderness where God would remember their sins no more. This is hugely symbolic and this goat became known as the ‘scapegoat.’

Jewish history records that it was also a common practice to tie a red strip of cloth to the scapegoat as a representation of the red blood that was sprinkled on the alter. In time this red strip of cloth would turn white representing that God had accepted the offering. This ritual happened every year and was the connection that the Jewish people had with God. References to this are found in other books of the Bible, including Isaiah and Hebrews.

This is love! It is not that we loved God but that He loved us. For God sent His Son to pay for our sins with His own blood.
1 John 4:10 (NLV)



Jesus came as the High Priest himself. Not with the blood of goats or calves but with his own blood for the atonement of all our sins. As we read the New Testament, we see how Jesus was the son of God and He had all power, all knowledge and all authority. As we read about the crucifixion, the reference to the goat’s blood becomes far more relevant. The crown of thorns placed on Christ’s head would have resulted in blood streaming down His face, symbolic of the piece of cloth tied to the scapegoat. His death on the cross once and for all paid the price for all of our sins and His resurrection to life grants us all eternal salvation.

As we enter into the Easter period, please take the time to reflect that the Christian story is not just about the 33 years of Jesus’ life on earth, rather it is a collection of incredible stories of how God has lived with, protected and guided His people over centuries and through many different people. The most magnificent outcome of all of this was that he gave His only son to die on a cross for all our sins. There is no greater love. Through His death and resurrection, we can all restore our relationship with God and gain the right to eternal life.

Have a wonderful holiday break!