Lamb of God
Introduction: This is a brief study about the acceptable offering of the Lamb of God, assembled during the Passover and Easter season to help reflect upon the prophetic implications of the sacrificial lamb in scripture, and the fulfillment by Christ. The Lamb of God has taken away the sins of those who place their faith and trust completely in his sacrifice, after which he sat down at the right hand of God.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the World English Bible.
A — The LORD Accepts Only the Right Sacrifice Offered by Faith
Genesis 4 “3 As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering, 5 but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering.”
Comments: Scripture does not reveal any instructions given to Cain and Abel about a prescribed sacrifice to the LORD. But when Cain's offering was unacceptable, the LORD gave him opportunity to do the right thing, and warned him that if he did not follow through, he would be allowing sin to have mastery over him. A passage from Hebrews shows that Abel acted out of faith, and this resulted in righteousness for him before God, which was of more value than his physical life.
B — A Picture of God's Substitutionary Sacrifice
Genesis 22 “7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, ‘My father, here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ 8 Abraham said, ‘God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’ 13 Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Will Provide.”
Comments: Abraham showed a firm faith as he believed that the LORD would give him many descendants through his only son Isaac as he had promised. The outcome of his faith resulted in a beautiful picture of how God would later provide his only Son as the lamb for all those who will place unwavering faith in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. The New Testament confirms: “By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac… concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead.”
C — The LORD's Judgment Passes Over Those Under the Blood
Exodus 12 “11 It is Yahweh's Passover. 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. 13 The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be on you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Comments: After the LORD had provided many signs to the children of Israel and to the Egyptians, this final one before they left Egypt was to become an annual memorial observance for Israel. It is also a picture of how the blood of the sacrifice applied by faith, allows a holy God to pass over us without his judgment. Because all people are sinners, we must have faith in the blood of Christ to redeem us. For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
D — Preaching About the Lamb of God
John 1 “29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
Acts 8 “35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.”
Comments: John the Baptist was the first to designate Jesus as the Lamb of God by direct revelation from God. After the resurrection, Philip explained to the Ethiopian eunuch that the lamb referred to in the Isaiah passage was a prophecy of the Lord Jesus. Peter confirms: “you were redeemed… with precious blood, as of a faultless and pure lamb, the blood of Christ; who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of times for your sake.”
E — Only One Sacrifice for Sin
Hebrews 10 “10 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 12 But he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 17 ‘I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.’ 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”
Comments: Hebrews chapter 9 explains that the blood of Christ obtained eternal redemption as he afterward entered into the holy place in heaven. Jesus offered himself to God without any blemish of sin and became the mediator of a new covenant. His death occurred for the redemption of the sins that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. When he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, Jesus sat down on the right hand of God. Our Lord Jesus has paid it all!
F — Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain
Revelation 5 “12 Saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honour, glory, and blessing!’ 13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honour, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!’”
Comments: In John's vision, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders who have their place in heaven fell down in complete subjection before the Lamb of God. The golden bowls full of incense represent the prayers of the saints, and this should encourage us to continue in prayer. The new song they sang declared that the Lamb of God is worthy to open the seal of the book as is no other, because he purchased the saints out of every tribe, tongue, and nation with his own blood. What a thrilling vision for those who can anticipate participation in this glorious praise because of faith in the shed blood of Christ and of his resurrection!
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, I thank you for providing a means of relationship with you by faith, from the beginning of the history of mankind. May I always remember that Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice because his faith had greater significance than his physical life. Abraham showed a level of faith and trust that brought the life of his promised son to the edge of death, but Abraham's faith was rewarded as you provided the ram, picturing the future substitutionary sacrifice until it reached fulfillment in Christ. How wonderful to know that John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Son of God, and the Lamb of God, through the sign you provided to him. I believe the vision of the Apostle John and it gives me great joy to know that I even now have the opportunity to offer praise to the Lamb who is worthy of all blessing, honor, glory, and dominion, forever and ever! Amen!
Published 28 March 2013