Yesterday we talked about sheep needing a shepherd.
Other imagery in the Bible tells us of the Lamb of God.
Hebrew custom was to sacrifice animals, sometimes an lamb, sometimes a dove, in atonement for sin. It seems barbaric to us, but this began thousands of years ago in a culture we can’t begin to understand.
Jesus came as the Lamb of God. The final sacrifice.
When he atoned for our sin on the cross, the temple sacrifices were no longer needed.
The final sacrifice for our sin was born in a manger.
We have to go through Bethlehem to get to Calvary.
Today is also St. Nicholas Day (as celebrated in Western Countries). Eastern Christianity celebrates his day on December 19.
St. Nicholas of Myra is the basis for our modern day Santa Claus (and the Dutch Sinterklaas). He took the words of Jesus to hear and sold what he owned to give to the poor. Nicholas was exiled and imprisoned. St. Nicholas Day recognizes the anniversary of his death.
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Yesterday we talked about sheep needing a shepherd.
St. Nicholas of Myra is the basis for our modern day Santa Claus (and the Dutch Sinterklaas). He took the words of Jesus to hear and sold what he owned to give to the poor. Nicholas was exiled and imprisoned. St. Nicholas Day recognizes the anniversary of his death.
