“Behold, the Lamb of God who atones for global sin!” John the Baptist presented Jesus in this manner to everyone in attendance (John 1:29). He did not come to this conclusion on his own. God made it known to him (John 1:32–35).
What does it mean that Jesus is the ‘Lamb of God’? To answer this question, we need to turn to the Old Testament. God created us so that we could worship Him and have fellowship with Him. However, after Adam and Eve sinned, sin blocked people from having a relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2).
Our God, being a God of love, did not want the people He had created to be eternally separated from Him. But, because He is holy and just, a penalty needed to be paid for sins committed so that sin is forgiven and reconciliation achieved. (Even in our unjust world there is a penalty to be paid for something as minor as jaywalking!) Hebrews 9:22 tells us “and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Sin was serious enough to warrant the shedding of blood (death of an innocent victim) for the punishment of it.
Lamb in the Old Testament
A lamb is described as being offered as a sin offering in Leviticus (4:32–35). By placing his hands on the lamb’s head, the priest is metaphorically placing the victim’s sins upon the “perfect” lamb. This sacrificial system was used, despite the fact that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats (and lambs) to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).
- Demonstrate the gravity of sin by requiring the innocent victim’s sacrificed death.
- Mention the day when God will offer His own Son—the ideal Lamb of God—as the last resort in order to atone for sin.
Another significant event in the Exodus story, where the Israelites’ firstborn children were spared, was the lamb sacrifice. God gave them the command to kill a lamb, known as the Passover lamb, and use its blood to mark the tops of their doorposts. At that point, the Lord’s angel learned to fly above their homes.
Christ our Passover Lamb
“Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed,” according to the apostle Paul (see 1 Corinthians 5:7). According to John’s narrative, Jesus was crucified on the same day as the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the temple, making a clear comparison between Jesus and the Passover Lamb (John 19:31).
Jesus’ death on the cross
We are able to be freed from the shackles of sin because of Jesus’ death on the cross. He became our substitute, our offering, and accomplished for us what we were unable to do for ourselves. His demise appeased God’s holy justice. He is known as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world because of this.
