Author: Gary Witcher
Company: none

Jesus: Lamb

     Last week we examined the idea of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.  But, as we continue our study, we discover something interesting.  Not only is Christ the shepherd, but He is also the Lamb of God.
     What pictures come to mind when we think of a sheep?  One of the first things is an image of innocence, meekness and gentleness.  And, for anyone who has taken a look at the Bible, a sheep also stands out as a sacrificial animal.
     The very first sacrifices recorded in the Bible are found in the fourth chapter of Genesis.  Abel, who presents a sacrifice which is acceptable to God, is identified as a keeper of flocks.  Verse four states that his offering consists of the firstlings of his flock.
     Another famous sacrifice is recorded in Genesis 22:1-13.  In this passage, Abraham follows God's instructions to offer Isaac.  At the last minute, however, God provides a ram to take the son's place.
     Under the Law of Moses, there were a number of sacrifices which were required.  There was a daily offering from the flock, as we learn in passages such as Exodus 29:38-41.  There was also a sacrifice at the beginning of each month, as we read in Numbers 28:11.  And there were annual offerings such as the ones at Passover.
     In addition to these regular sacrifices, there were offerings which were required for special occasions.
     As we notice in Leviticus 14:10-32, the healing of a leper was accompanied by a sacrifice.  Numbers 6:1-21 tells of an offering in conjunction with the Nazarite vow.  A sacrifice of purification after childbirth is mentioned in Leviticus 12:6-8.  Exodus 34:20 requires an offering of redemption for a first-born child.  And Leviticus 4:32-35 is one of the passages dealing with the offering for sin.
     Sacrifices were also a part of the dedication of the altar (Numbers 7:15-17), the dedication of the temple (1 Chronicles 29:21) and the rededication of the temple (2 Chronicles 29:21, Ezra 8:35 and Ezekiel 46:4-15).
     With this background information in mind, let's turn to Jesus as the Lamb of God.  There is no doubt that this title is appropriate for the Messiah.
     "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," John the Baptist says of Jesus in John 1:29.
     "Behold, the Lamb of God," the same prophet exclaims in verse 36.
     But what image comes to mind when we picture Jesus as the Lamb of God?  First of all, the figure of a lamb fits Him because of His innocence, meekness and purity.
     "He was led as a sheep to slaughter," the Ethiopian is reading from Isaiah chapter 53 as Philip arrives to assist him in Acts 8:26-40; "and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He does not open His mouth.
     "In humiliation His judgment was taken away."
     "But with precious blood," 1 Peter 1:19 says of the price of our redemption, "as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."
     "Who committed no sin," 1 Peter 2:22-23 states about the character of Jesus, "nor was any deceit found in His mouth, and while being reviled, he did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously."
     Hebrews 9:14 describes Jesus as an offering without blemish.
     In these verses we see not only the innocent, meek and sinless nature of Jesus, but we also encounter the idea of Him as a sacrifice.
     The fifth chapter of Revelation pictures Jesus as a lamb before the throne of God.  Verse six describes the Lord as a lamb which has been slain.  Revelation 13:8 contains the same description.
     As we look back at the Old Testament sacrifices, we notice how completely Jesus fulfills His role.  Just as the healing of a leper required an offering, the sacrifice of Jesus is what cures us of all our spiritual illnesses.  A Nazarite vow, which dedicated a person to God, was accompanied by a sacrifice.  It is the blood of Jesus which sets us apart today.
     An offering was made for purification following childbirth.  As we learn from Hebrews 9:14 and Romans 6:3-11, it is the blood of Christ which provides our cleansing as we are born to live a new life.
     Sacrifices were required under the Old Law whenever a person sinned.  Revelation 1:5 tells us that the blood of Christ washes away our sins.

     Jesus is the Lamb of God because of His purity and also because of His sacrifice.
     "And walk in love," Paul instructs in Ephesians 5:2, "just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
     The picture of Jesus as the Lamb of God is most evident in the book of Hebrews.
     "Who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people," Hebrews 7:27 says of Jesus, "because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself."
     In this passage we notice a contrast between the offering of the Old Testament and the sacrifice of Jesus.  Remember that the Old Law required daily, monthly and annual sacrifices?  The offering of Jesus is good once-for-all.  The power of His blood is eternal.
     "And having been made perfect," Hebrews 5:9 says of the Christ, "He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation."
     "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come," Hebrews 9:11-12 points out, "He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal salvation."
     "Nor was it that He should offer Himself often," verses 25-26 stress, "as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own.
     "Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."
     "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," Hebrews 10:10-12 claims.  "And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God."
     Unlike the offerings of the Old Law, the single sacrifice of Jesus is enough for all ages.  And, unlike the Old Testament offerings which benefited only the Jews, the sacrifice of Jesus is available to all people.
     "And we have beheld and bear witness," 1 John 4:14 says, "that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world."
     "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins," 1 John 2:2 states of Jesus; "and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
     The sacrifice of Jesus is great enough to reach anyone in the world.  But we should remember what we read earlier in Hebrews 5:9.  Jesus is the source of eternal salvation only for those who obey Him.
     And what happens if we obey the Lamb of God and benefit from His great sacrifice?  The book of Revelation paints a unique picture of the Lamb.  In this great book of prophecy we encounter Jesus as the victorious Lamb.
     In chapters five and six the Lamb is pictured as the only one who has the right and the power to open the seven seals and thus put into motion the plan of God.
     Revelation 17:14 speaks of an attempted war against the Lamb.  But the Lamb is victorious.
     In Revelation 6:16 the kings and other great men of the earth try to hide themselves from the wrath of the Lamb.  Revelation 14:10 paints the picture of the suffering which awaits the enemies of the Lamb.
     "After these things I looked," John writes in Revelation 7:9, "and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands."
     "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come," John hears in Revelation 12:10-11, "for the accuser  of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.
     "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death."
     Revelation 14:1 pictures the Lamb standing victoriously with the saved.  Verse four says that these people follow the Lamb wherever He goes, and that they have been purchased as first fruits to God and the Lamb.
     "Come here," an angel instructs John in Revelation 21:9, "I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
     The rest of the chapter describes this bride, the people of God.
     We read in Revelation 19:8-9 of an invitation to the marriage feast of this bride and the Lamb.
     "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb," John is told to write in verse nine.
     "These are true words of God," the messenger adds at the end of the verse.
     And how can we receive an invitation to this wedding?  Better yet, how can we be part of the group identified as the bride?
     The answer is simple.  All we have to do is wash our sins in the blood of the Lamb.  All we have to do is obey the truth and be set free.
Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."