Have you ever gone to the dictionary only to find they define the word you need with one you don’t know. Then you go down the bunny trail and look the other word up only to find they refer you back to the original word? It can be a source of frustration. There are many words that you’ll only hear in the Bible and propitiation is one of them. I heard a great definition by Pastor Patsy Cameneti that I feel needs to be shared. It’s very simple but powerful.
This is a story about Big Tom and Little Timmy back in the forties.
There was this country school with feral kids, terrible kids. They ran 4 teachers off being so unruly. Finally this young guy fresh out of school went on a trial basis. He prayed about it and felt lead to teach the kids.
On the first day of class he told the kids you have to help me with the class. This will be our class, and you must set up the rules and punishment for the class. The kids loved that. He said, “I’ll right the rules on the board. Kids, the rules are no good unless there are repercussions if you break them. What do you think the punishment should be?” The kids said there should be ten smacks with the rod on your back without a coat. Everybody was good with the decision.
Everything was going good. Three weeks in there were no problems until Big Tom who was the class bully and very mean told the teacher that somebody stole his lunch. He wasn’t lying. Another child piped up and said, “It was Little Tim. We saw him behind the building, and he has your lunch.” The teacher was thinking oh no this was the first offense and now we have to reinforce punishment. That was the rule.
The teacher said ok you made the rules so we’re gonna have to do this. He called Little Timmy to the front of the class. Little Timmy had on a big coat, and he said I’m happy to take the wacks but do I have to take off my coat? The teacher said well that was part of it; yes you have to. Little Timmy said well ok and started to take off his coat. Everyone saw he didn’t have a shirt underneath and he was really scrawny. The whole class gasped when they saw how scrawny he was. Little Timmy went on to say well my daddy died a while back and my mom is washing my shirt today. I didn’t have anything else to wear so I wore my brothers coat.
Little Timmy leaned over the desk to take his wacks when Big Tom stood up and asked the teacher if there were any rules that say someone else can’t take the wacks for you? The teacher was so relieved when Big Tom asked this. The teacher stated that there wasn’t any rule against this. Big Tom said, “I’m going to take Timmy’s wacks.” He moved Timmy out of the way, laid on the desk, and took all of Timmy’s wacks. Everyone in the class was crying.
Similarly in our lives, the punishment has to come, it just doesn’t have to come on you. That’s what Jesus did for us – He took our wacks (sins) so that we may spend eternity in Heaven. 1 John 2:2 He did so much more than just take our wacks. The Greek word used over 100 times is sozo. This word means saved, healed, made whole, delivered, and preserved. Our heavenly Father wants a relationship with you but our sin keeps us from that closeness. Jesus was the lamb sacrificed for our benefit once and for all!! If you haven’t let Jesus be your propitiation then I urge you to accept this free gift from Him. It’s very simple even a child can understand. 1 Timothy 3:15. It’s not about anyone pointing a finger at you and making you feel guilty. With a sincere heartfelt repentance acknowledge that you have sinned (spoiler alert HE already knows! 1 John 3:20) and say that you’re sorry 1 John 1:9. Believe on His son Jesus Christ and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9).
Look at Romans 3:25 where Paul used propitiation to mean “satisfy the demands of justice.” It is God’s righteousness made visible through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And now all who believe in him receive that gift. For there is really no difference between us, for we all have sinned and are in need of the glory of God. Romans 3:22-23 TPT
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God is love. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run (1 Corinthians 13:13 TPT). Jesus is Lord.