All About Jesus, Behold, the Lamb of God!

The portrayal of Jesus as the Lamb of God occurs twenty-seven times in the writings of John in the New Testament. In John 1:29, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In Revelation 13:8, He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

John's announcement, "Behold! The Lamb of God," was a recognition that the man coming toward him was in fact the fulfillment of the symbolic sacrificial lamb of the Old Testament.

1. Jesus, the Lamb of God: What examples of a sacrificial lamb are there in the Old Testament?

The first reference to a sacrificial lamb is in Genesis 4:1-7: The story of Cain and Abel: Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel brought a lamb, the firstborn of one of his flock of sheep. The Lord accepted Abel's offering but not Cain's. Cain was angry. The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it" (Genesis 4:??).

Cain, rather than to provide the offering called for by the Lord, decided to bring the fruits of his own labor. Our salvation is not dependent on what we do. It is dependent on what God has done for us and our acceptance of the sacrifice He has made for us. A sacrificed lamb represented the sacrifice that God's own Son would make to take away the sins of the world. Abel was obedient to the Lord by providing a lamb for his sacrifice, the prescribed offering which pointed forward to the sacrifice that God would provide, Jesus Christ, the lamb of God!

Genesis 22:6-8, 13-14: Abraham to Isaac: "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." There are many references in the life of Abraham where he built an alter to the Lord beside his encampment. Every time he moved, he built an altar to the Lord.

Exodus 12:21-28: Moses told the elders of Israel, "Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. --- For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. --- When your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' that you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.'"

Leviticus 4:32-33: "If he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish. Then he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill it as a sin offering at the place where they kill the burnt offering." In the temple service established after Israel left Egypt, lambs were sacrificed as sin offerings before the Lord. That tradition carried forward in the temple service on a daily basis until the temple was destroyed some thirty years after the death of Christ.

And this is what the Bible says happened in the temple at the time that Jesus died on the cross: Matthew 27:50, 51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45: The veil in the temple between the holy and most holy places was rent from top to bottom signifying that the sacrificial service had been fulfilled. The symbol had met its reality. It was finished.

The sacrifice of lambs for the sins of God's people is recorded in the Bible from the time of Adam forward till the time of Christ. Throughout the Old Testament the Lambs slain represented "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" a reference in Revelation 13:8 of the promise of Jehovah concerning the One toward whom all the sacrifices pointed.

Isaiah prophesied, Isaiah 53:7: "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." Jesus allowed Himself to be led away and crucified, He did not resist. As a lamb, Christ submitted to all kinds of abuse and indignities and was nailed to a cross without resistance. He did struggle against the forthcoming humiliation in prayer with His Father, however, He was submissive, "Not My will but thine be done." Matthew 26:36-46.

The sacrifice of the lambs that were slain in the Old Testament represented the future crucifixion of Jesus Christ. His death on the cross paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind, including our sins. The penalty for sin is death. Ezekiel 18:4, 20, 21 "The soul who sins shall die. --If a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die." Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Our salvation is not dependent on our works or our offerings.

Our Salvation is dependent on our accepting and appreciating what God has done for us to rescue us from the dominion of Satan. Here on earth, we live on a hostile planet. The God of Heaven is not a hostile person. He is a God of love and compassion. He has the power to overcome the evil of this world and wipe it out. However, if God wiped out evil by destroying the world, He would then be feared by all His creation. God's government is not based on the principles of force, it is based on the principles of love and He has a better way to overcome the wickedness and rebellion of this world.

For those who will take the time to get to know Him and His ways, He has provided a way of escape. And Jesus Christ is God's rescue Agent. Jesus Christ was in the beginning the Creator of the human race. Lucifer deceived our first parents and usurped the authority of Adam over this race. Jesus came down and lived as a man, and was loyal and faithful to all the commands of God, the very principles of God's government, in order to rescue those who would be loyal to God and to reclaim ownership of this world. Not only must Christ fulfill the commandments of God and be faithful and loyal to them, He must also make the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind in order to save them. Christ lifted the curse of sin from us by His death on the cross.

Our acceptance of God and what He has done for us and our heart felt appreciation for Him will lead us to want to be loyal to Him and to be obedient to His commandments which are the principles of His government.

Cain did not appreciate God and did not accept God's prescription for his sins, the offering of a lamb. Instead, Cain substituted the fruit of his own labor. He offered his garden produce, in place of taking the life of a lamb. The life of that lamb represented the life of Jesus Christ who would someday be slain to lift the curse of Cain's sins from his life. Cain did not accept God's offer for him. Instead he became jealous and angry and killed his own brother rather than to obey God and confess his sins over a slain lamb.

We also are often disobedient and rebellious because we do not understand what God has done for us. In Jesus Christ we come to understand that God loves us, and when He asks us to do something, it is truly for our own benefit. God's salvation is the same for us today as it was for Cain and Abel in their day. The only difference is that today, we confess are sins to God and the blood of Jesus cleanses us of our sins. For Cain and Abel, they were to confess their sins to God, and the blood of the lamb representing the blood of Jesus cleansed them of their sins.

2. Jesus, the Lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world:

Isaiah 38:17: Behold, --You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

Micah 7:19: He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Matthew 1:21: He will save His people from their sins.

1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

How often do you take a bath? What happens if you don't take a bath? The same thing happens to us morally and spiritually, we become filthy if we are not cleansed by our sin pardoning Savior.

Romans 8:1-6: There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ---He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, (set their minds on) the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

When we accept Jesus to come into our life as our Savior and friend, He begins the process of cleaning up our lives. He separates us from our sins and subdues our iniquities. In Him, we become a new creation.

3. In Jesus, we become a new creation:

2 Corinthians 5:17: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Paul wrote: 2 Corinthians 5:20, 21: "We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He (God) made Him (Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus)." God the Father placed our sins upon Jesus at the cross so that through Christ's obedience, even unto death, on our behalf we may receive Christ into our lives and by receiving Him, we are cleansed and we receive His righteousness. In Jesus, we are made the right with God. We are reconciled to God in Jesus Christ.

1 Cor. 2:9, 12: Jesus came to restore in us the image of the Father. He came so that we might receive His Spirit. By receiving His Spirit, we are lifted into a new plain of existence. In Jesus we receive the Spirit of God.

John 4:21-24: God is a Spirit and we worship God in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19-25: Read about the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.

John 14:15-18: Christ's promise to us. If we are willing and obedient, He will come to us and share His Spirit with us. God's provision for us is the same as it was for Cain and Able. "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Genesis 4:7.

God promises to be with us and to teach us. Psalms 32:8-10: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding. Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

Romans 12:2, 9: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ---- Abhor what is evil, Cling to what is good."

We are what we think about. We are changed by what we focus our minds on. As a man thingketh in his heart, so is he. God challenges us to be transformed by the truth that He shares with us in His Holy Word. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds in the Word of God and by receiving His Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us, "Bring- every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

Isaiah 1:18-20: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land: But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured.

Words to live by. In Christ Jesus we are a new creation, and with Him we have a new life and a new hope.

4. A new life, a new hope and a future with Christ:

Jeremiah 29:11-13: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

What was the meaning of John the Baptist's statement when he first saw Jesus? "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29. Jesus is our sin bearer. He, who knew no sin was made to be sin for us on the cross, so that we may be cleansed of our sins and learn of Him and His ways that we may follow Him and learn to do what is right and be successful. He has saved us from the condemnation of the sins of this world brought on us by the deceptions of Satan and the polluted cultures in which we live.

Jesus Christ is God! He took upon Himself in human form the penalty for our sins so that we may receive His life and His inheritance. This is His gift to us, freely offered to everyone who will accept Him for who He is, our Savior, Redeemer and Friend. It is not a gift that we can buy or pay for by our own good works. It is only a gift that we can receive by accepting Jesus into our lives. When we accept Jesus into our lives, He cleanses us from the defilement of sin and makes us right with God.

It is the Father's intent and purpose that everyone in the universe be brought into unity with His Son, Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 1:9, 10). Outside of Jesus Christ, we are hopeless, helpless and lost. In Him there is unity, harmony, love, peace and joy, kindness, gentleness and self-control. In Jesus Christ, we are adopted into the family of the Creator of the universe. In Jesus Christ, there is unity and dignity and we become royalty. "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God" (1 John ?:??). What a blessing!

The Lord told Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it" (Genesis 4:??). We can only overcome sin by accepting God's prescription for us. And God's prescription for us is to accept His Son, the One He sent to rescue us, Jesus Christ. When we confess our sins to Him, he gets rid of them for us and shares His Spirit with us so that we may overcome the temptations of this world and receive the fruits of His Spirit, His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and His inheritance, everlasting life with our Creator, our God and our best Friend. In Him, we are a new creation.

If you have not known Jesus, or have not accepted Him into your life, I invite you right now to let Jesus come into your life. You will receive a peace that passes all understanding. You will receive a Spirit that is foreign to the spirits of this world. You will receive a Spirit that accepts you as you are, but who will not leave you in a state of sin and degradation. You will be changed into a new person. You will become like the One whom you admire, Jesus Christ. He will lead you and teach you His ways. And He will walk with you right into His kingdom of grace. He loves you and is calling you to repent of your sinful ways and to accept His gift, His salvation.

Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29, NKJV).

Wonderful Father, thank you for your love and for your Lamb who takes away our sins and who walks with us throughout life and teaches us Your ways. Amen.