Sacrifice Up Close and Personal

Yesterday, at sunset comenced the large holiday of Eid al-Adha.  Click to read more about this rather complex and sacred holiday; it will give more meaning to the pictures below...

I awoke early today and headed to the nearby mosque to see the large prayer gathering.  All the mosques had been praying over their loudspeakers since yesterday at sunset and it went all through the night.  At sunrise the faithful gathered at their respective mosque to pray together.

Despite my very obvious presence (6 '3", 210 lbs, white, tall, blonde hair, white, tall), all those gathered welcomed me to take pictures and document a little of what happens for them once a year.

This holiday in comprised of many sacrifices.  Within our small neighborhood, there were a total of 10 goats, 2 lambs, and 1 cow all bought by someone from the neighborhood.  While this practice isn't something we as Christians perform, it wasn't that long ago in the grand scheme of things that we would have performed something similar.  Praise God for The Ultimate Sacrifice!  Seeing this up front and very personal made me all the more humbled and grateful for the priceless gift we have in Christ Jesus...salvation through grace.  WOW!

The animals were not killed instantly.  Their throats and main neck arteries were cut, and then 5-10 minutes later they finally expired.  I have no problem with hunting, the meat market, etc. but cutting an animal in such a way as to purposely delay its death was tough to watch.  Suffering had to be part of the sacrifice.

Once most of the smaller animals were killed, the action turned to the main event...the cow.  Despite it's much larger size, it put up less of a fight than the goats and sheep and it was soon all over.  Blood was everywhere today, and I couldn't help but remember Hebrews 9:22;  "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:11-28 talks of what the blood does, vain sacrifices and meaningless ceremonies.  If you haven't read it in a while you should consider it.   

Once the animals were killed, time was not wasted in butchering the meat in preparation for distribution to the poor.  I cannot say how many people were helped with some meat today, but I have a feeling it was a considerable number.

As I walked home today (all of 40 yards) I was awestruck at what I had just witnessed over the last hour.  Reading similar stories from the Bible pales in comparison to actually seeing, smelling, and hearing this process.  While I do not have a desire to witness this event next year, I am grateful that I went.  It gives me an even deeper love and understanding of what our Lamb did for us, what He continues to do, and how He will end it all some day.