The Great Sacrifice

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10, NIV.

Every year the people of Aceh, along with all other Muslim people groups, celebrate Idul Adha. This holy Islamic weekend is to remind the people of the sacrifice of the goat that Abraham substituted for his son, whom the Acehnese believe was Ishmael. Our medical disaster relief team waited until 9:00 a.m. before venturing out on that Friday. We had been told that no American team could do any relief work on such a holy occasion.

Four of the doctors on our team from Pensacola, Florida, had asked if they could accompany me to the nearest mosque to witness the celebration first-hand. Two Acehnese mosque leaders spotted us as we approached. “Over here!” they shouted enthusiastically in Australian English. One Imam (mosque leader) escorted us into a field across the street from the mosque to witness the sacrificing of a male goat. Two men held the goat as his neck was slowly slit and together with several others they shouted repeatedly: “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great). Six goats and two cows would be sacrificed over the next three days, the meat distributed to the “umat” (people of Islamic faith). Mosque leaders had worked hard to provide as much meat as possible for the survivors of wave.

What a remarkable opportunity for sharing the redemptive story of the sacrifice of the Father’s ‘Scapegoat’ who destroys the work of the Evil One not only in the lives of Americans and Acehnese but of all the peoples of the world!

Pray that:

The Acehnese will continue to have the chance to hear about the Great Sacrifice that takes away all their sins.

Volunteers and local believers will be wise and bold in sharing the truth through cultural and religious opportunities like Idul Adha.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.