Lent 2018 Devotional: Day Twenty-Seven

"Once a year Aaron shall perform the rite of atonement on its [the ark of the covenant's] horns. Throughout your generations he shall perform the atonement for it once a year with the blood of the atoning sin offering. It is most holy to the Lord." --Exodus 30:10

"Atonement" is a word that makes some Christians squeamish today. It comes to us from our faith's Jewish roots. A priest would offer sacrifices of atonement (at-one-ment) in order to cleanse the sins of the people, so that they could be reconciled with God. But through Jesus, our sins are forgiven once and for all. God's grace, forgiveness, and mercy have been poured out on all creation. And through our own confession and repentance, aligning ourselves with Jesus, listening to him, and following his way, we can live the best life that God has in store for us.

It is difficult to reflect on the cross and its meaning. How can a place of torture produce forgiveness and reconciliation? Yet to endure even this from frightened, confused, cruel, power-hungry, finite human beings who could not accept Jesus' message, God grants us a new way to live. On the cross, Jesus takes on the pain and weight of all of our brokenness--all that keeps us from opening ourselves to God's love for us. Through his death we are opened to the way of eternal life, beginning now. We can join the work of bringing the kingdom of God that he began, fresh and new, reborn in him.

Take a moment to reflect on the cross. What does Jesus' sacrifice mean to you?

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