Lenten Reader | Day 12

March 18th, 2025

Lamb of God

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Genesis 22:6-7

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

In the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 and the remark by John the Baptist in John 1, the common theme is the lamb. A lamb in the Old Testament is often a sacrifice. Lambs were sacrificed twice daily at the temple. It is also a symbol of Israel. Putting lambs’ blood on the doorposts of each house was a new beginning for Israel.

Isaac understood the process of a burnt offering. He knew that everything was ready, and he knew that the lamb was missing. God provided that lamb in place of Isaac. This shows God’s character in protecting Isaac and in providing a substitute so he would not have to die.

John the Baptist is foretelling that Jesus will be the sacrifice that atones for the sins of the world. He understood that the sacrifice of lambs was an important part of Jewish religion. He was also familiar with the Old Testament teachings of Jeremiah and Isaiah who prophesied the coming of one who would be brought “like a lamb led to the slaughter” (Jeremiah 11:19; Isaiah 53:7) and whose sacrifice would provide redemption for Israel. That person was Jesus Christ, Lamb of God.

Because of our sins, we are condemned to death. God provided Jesus in place of our sinful selves. John was identifying Jesus as the Savior that the people were expecting. Lamb of God is a powerful expression of the sacrificial love of Jesus. Jesus, as Lamb of God, is a fulfillment of prophecy.

While the idea of a sacrificial lamb seems strange to us, the concept of payment or restitution is one we can relate to. We use the term sacrifice more often with our time, attention, and resources. Our world is different because of the sacrifices that have already been made for us. Jesus, Lamb of God, was sacrificed on our behalf. We now have the opportunity for everlasting life.

Pam Frazier