LAMB of GOD

                  “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)

How cute are little lambs! One of my earliest memories is feeding ‘BaBa’ at my friend’s farm.  However, my perception of lambs/sheep has changed with maturity, travel and study.  Today, my mind sees lambs/sheep as people – sea of humanity “All we like sheep have gone astray.” (Isa 53:6) Today one Lamb stands out in my mind – “Jesus, Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:9). But in my mind I also see the picture of Shepherd Jesus holding a little lamb.  How can He be Shepherd and Lamb?? God and Son of God??  Lamb of God and Lion of Judah??   God is God – Awesome. Mysterious and unfathomable!!

John the Baptizer, son of a priest, was familiar with the sacrificial system. When He said “Lamb of God”, it was the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The innocent Lamb of God would be the innocent sacrificial Lamb and give His life because He loved you and me. Our hindsight is much more clear; we know Yeshua ha Machaia was the Lamb sacrificed, Suffering Servant – but will return as King Jesus Lion of Judah!!  Prophets and scholars of the Old Testament didn’t have such insight.  God’s Lamb’s blood sacrifice was so effective that when God looks at His children, he sees Jesus!! How can I say thank you Lord?  Only in obedience.

In our travels to the Holy land, we have walked down the ‘Palm Sunday road from Bethany toward the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem; it is downhill and past the cemeteries.  As Jesus rode the donkey leading the joyous procession of ‘palm branches – symbol of earthly triumph, and heard the ‘Hosannas’, which recognized him as Messiah, he rode over a very special culvert near the gate.  In a few days, this culvert would run red with the blood of Passover lambs – being selected on this very day. (As many as 250000 lambs  representing about 2.5million people were probably sacrificed!)  

 Little did those Palm Sunday paraders know, at that time, that Jesus was already “ordained from the foundation of the earth“ ( Rev 13:8) to be our sacrificial Lamb and His blood would be shed on Passover for our sins.  The blood of the earthly lambs could only cover sin; Jesus’ blood washes, removes and forgives the curse of sin!!  “Without the shedding of Blood there is no remission of sin.” (Heb 9:22).

In the beginning, when Adam and Eve sinned, they choose to try to cover their sin and same with fig leaves; God had another plan.  He choose an animal to give it’s blood as a covering.  Lev. 17:11 says, “It is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…..” (John 3:16). God loves people but hates sin… so he got rid of sin on the cross- not people as HE did in the flood.

The apostle John, now aged and looking toward heaven, mentions Christ as the Lamb 29 times, however, Strong’s Concordance indicates that the meaning of the word has changed from innocent Lamb to one stronger indicating a lamb slain but now ready to reign.  “Then I saw a Lamb looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center and he took the scroll…” (Rev 5:4-5).  Today on earth we sin from  Rev 5:12 “Worthy is the Lamb”.  I can only imagine singing with the crowds in Glory.

Let me close with a paragraph from Ann Spangler’s book Praying the Names of Jesus:  Fortunately God gave His Son to be both Lion and Lamb.  As Lamb He has taken the brunt of God’s wrath, bearing it away so that we can experience God’s mercy.  But as the Lion He stands in judgment on all who persist in opposing God.

SOOO, young and older… Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?   IF not, today is the day of salvation.  Sincerely repent and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, turn from sinning and walk in His Word, will and way.

Nothing but the Blood     Robert Lowery

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
****

Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel

Lord, to give up I’d be a fool,  You are my all in all….