“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
(John 1:29 NKJV)
Series: His Name is Jesus
Have you ever surrendered something you treasure for a greater cause? Or given up something for the benefit of another? Maybe you’ve donated items at a food pantry, given money to a charity, or volunteered to assist others. These acts are valuable sacrifices offered to help others.
Some devote their lives to serve others and have perished in the line of duty—giving the ultimate price for their department, their community, their platoon, their nation.
There is One who laid His life down for all of humanity. His name is Jesus, the Lamb of God.
In the Old Testament, God initiated the requirement of an animal sacrifice for a sin offering. Exodus 12 and Leviticus 4 detail this practice. When a lamb was brought for the sin offering, it had to be without spot or blemish.
Jesus came to earth to be the final sin offering for all. The blood of bulls, goats, or lambs would no longer be needed for atonement. Jesus fulfilled the Law that was established in the Old Testament.
He lived a perfect and sinless life. He endured the same tests and temptations that we do, yet He did not sin. He is our sacrificial lamb, without spot or blemish.
Isaiah prophesied Jesus would bear the sins of others. He was oppressed, punished, and killed for us—for the evil we have done. Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV) says:
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.
Through Jesus’ suffering and death, He paid the price for our redemption. Because of His sacrifice, we become His righteousness through faith in Him.
In 1 Peter 1:18-19 (HCSB), Peter wrote:
For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.
We cannot buy our redemption, and we cannot earn it through good works. The sacrifices we make as we serve others are an outward expression of our faith in God and our discipleship to Jesus. As we grow in the knowledge of His great love for us, we are compelled to love others as He loves us.
1 John 4:10 (NIV) tells us:
This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God sent His Son, Jesus, to be our sacrificial lamb so that we could be reconciled to Him. Our relationship with God as our Father is restored because of Jesus. We are washed clean and made new through faith in Him because He was obedient in every step, even through His death on the cross.
Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus!
One day, we will gather with the thousands upon thousands in heaven and worship the precious Lamb of God, saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12 NKJV)
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: John 1:29; Exodus 12; Leviticus 4; Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 4:10; Revelation 5:12; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 5:17; Philippians 2:8
