Scapegoat.

The other day I decided to go for a run on one of the treadmills at my apartment complex. At first the room only had two treadmills and an elliptical but recently they added a widescreen TV, a disinfectant wipe dispenser and a handful of "motivational" posters hanging on the wall. I know you've seen those posters before. They have an inspiring picture with a title underneath the photo and some kind of quote or cliché statement that is supposed to inspire you to achieve greater heights! As soon as I saw those posters, I felt as if I could run at least an extra mile!

Ok, I'm kidding, but looking at those posters reminded me of all the hilarious "de-motivational" posters I have seen over the years. These posters look the same but make fun of something in a witty way. One such poster came to mind. The photo was one of a mountain goat on a rock and the caption read, "SCAPEGOAT: The Secret to Success is Knowing Who to Blame." One of my pastors from Wausau had used this poster in one of his sermons and it stuck in my head. As I think about our preparation for Easter during this Lenten season, this poster actually hits the nail right on the head.

"The secret to success is knowing who to blame." Exactly. We had ashes put on our head reminding us that the penalty for our sins is death. We were made from dust and to dust we shall return. Who's to blame for our sins? We are. Success starts at realizing that we are to blame. Nothing good lives inside of us and we rightfully deserve God's "present and eternal punishment." We are helpless and in need of a Savior. This is exactly where we want to be as we prepare to witness the empty tomb.

But...how does knowing that you are to blame bring success (Of course by success I mean eternal life)? Success does not come from us, but from God. God also knew whom to blame. The beautiful thing is that God did not blame us (even though we most certainly deserved it)! He sent a "scapegoat." Our "scapegoat" is Jesus. Jesus was "blamed" for our sins--he took them all to the cross and died the death that we deserved. As we have heard it many times before, 2 Corinthians 5:21 rings out once again: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

"The secret to success is knowing who to blame." We are to blame, but Jesus took our blame and now we are blameless. May that peace of forgiveness keep your mind on the cross as we journey together to the empty tomb (and know that, because of Jesus, our tomb will be empty too!).

Only Because of Jesus,

Vicar Jake