The writer of the Gospel of John uses the phrase, “Lamb of God” on two occasions, both in
chapter 1 of the Gospel that bares his name. We read these words: “The next day John seeing
Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world” (John 1:29). The Gospel writer will use these words to introduce the work of John, the
forerunner of Jesus. Have you ever asked yourself, why was Jesus called “the Lamb of God?”
This is an interesting study, of which we will only be able to scratch the surface.
The word “lamb” is recorded in scripture 107 times between the Old and New Testaments. John is the only Gospel writer to use these words. In fact, John is the only New Testament writer to use this phrase. Most of the references to the “Lamb” are in Revelation, the other two
references are in John 1:29, 36.
The lamb was a common animal, arguably known by all, to some degree or another. There are
at least two passages in the New Testament that record a lamb being used in the parables of
Jesus (Luke 15:4-7; Matthew 18:11-14). We see “lamb” used in the form of prophecy in Isaiah
53, depicting Jesus as a “lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7.)
The lamb was often used as a sacrifice for sin. We see the first illusion to this in Genesis 4:4;
where Abel offered of the “firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof.” Isaac specifically askes
Abraham, in Genesis 22:7, “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt
offering?”
When we consider the purpose of the lamb, we learn that the sacrificing of the lamb was for the
purpose of removing the sin on behalf of the one sacrificing it (Leviticus 4:32-35). In John 1:29,
which we have already mentioned, John connects Jesus as the sacrificial lamb which can take
away our sins. The apostle Paul would write to the preacher Titus, in Titus 3:4-7:
“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us
abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should
be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
It is necessary to point out that Paul is not saying that Jesus is only going to save those who are Jews. Consider the words of the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The significance of Jesus as the “Lamb of God” cannot be overstated. All, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, and social status has the same access to forgiveness of sins!
Finally, how is Jesus our sacrificial lamb? Notice in the first place, Jesus was willing to leave
Heaven and willingly take on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:5-8.) This sacrifice was not
required of Jesus but offered by Jesus for the redemption of mankind. Secondly, the price
Jesus paid for the removal of our sins, qualifies Him as the “Lamb of God,” (Hebrews 12:2). In
spite of the shame brought about by dying on the cross, Jesus gave himself freely for you and
me. Even though we were enemies of God, through sin, (Romans 5:6-8). Paul writes beginning
in verse 6, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would
even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, I that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.”
We need to draw attention to Jesus as the “Lamb of God” just a John did. Use the illustration of
Jesus as a lamb to teach people concerning who Jesus is, why Jesus came down to earth, what Jesus set out to accomplish, where Jesus said the saved people of God would be found, when are our sins removed, and how we can life joyfully, in this life, knowing that Heaven is our
reward when this life is over.
May God bless us as we share the truth of Jesus, the Lamb of God.
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