Behold the Lamb of God

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 1:29 NIV

On this Easter morning I am thinking about all of the “perfectly spotless little lambs” that have ever been slaughtered as sacrifices for sin down through the ages.

It makes me sad to think about the innocence of those unsuspecting animals. Yet, every Israelite family was required by God to sacrifice a lamb for the past year’s sin. The cut was quickly made, the blood was spilled, and the price was paid for the family’s sin as the Passover lamb was obediently sacrificed.

It is now occurring to me that there never has been an unsuspecting Passover lamb that suffered the way that Jesus suffered. No lamb ever dreaded the event of the sacrifice. None of the sacrificial lambs ever sweat drops of blood or prayed to God for another way to appease sin. No other lamb was beaten with a “cat of nine tails” until its back was shredded flesh. No other lamb was mocked, made sport of, and spit upon. No other lamb felt the rejection of mankind, the desertion of friends, the way the Lamb of God did. No other sacrificial lamb willingly laid down its life or was nailed to a cross. No other lamb ever experienced the slow excruciating painful death of crucifixion. No other lamb felt forsaken by God. No other lamb ever descended into hell. No other lamb was ever able to pay the all inclusive, one time only price for my sin and yours!

What kind of lamb bows in humble submission to the will of his Father and opens not his mouth in his own defense? What kind of lamb expresses no anger, or refuses to call down fire on his offenders. What kind of lamb refuses to call ten thousand angles to come to his rescue, even though he had the power to do so? It is a Lamb, the Son of God, who loves to do the will of his Father more than his own will. It is a Savior who loves each one of us more than he loves his own life.

There is nothing recorded in God’s Word that gives us any indication of a pity party, a plea bargain, or a devious plan of escape. Instead, all that we see from our Lord and Savior was surrender. Jesus Christ was both human and divine. In his humanity he suffered, it was part of the plan. Suffering and death was required in order to appease the sin of mankind. Jesus chose to let the love he had for his Father and for you and me overshadow his pain and suffering. He did not focus on himself but rather on his Father’s will.

Through his suffering the love of Jesus is spoken loud and clear. He expressed love and concern for his mother, his offenders, the thief dying on the cross next to him, and for all of humanity. Never forget that in all of history there has never been a sacrificial lamb like this Lamb!

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches,

and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”

Revelation 5:12 KJV

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"

Luke 24: 1-3, 5b - 6a NIV

Questions:

How does the price that Jesus paid for your sin and my sin make you feel?

Do you see that Jesus Christ has earned the right to be worshiped and adored by all of heaven and earth?

Do you rejoice in the truth that Jesus Christ is our risen Lord?

How can you share that truth with someone else?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I humbly bow before you, the perfect Lamb of God. Thank you for not only taking away the sin of the world but for making it so very personal. I am so blessed to be forgiven. I pray that today my heart will be full of gratitude, love, and joy for the ultimate gift that you have so sacrificially given to me. Yes Lord, you alone are worthy to receive honor, power and glory! Thank you Jesus.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.