Lamb Of God

Lamb of God

Why is Jesus called the “Lamb of God”?

God’s Response

Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering on the altar in place of his son. Genesis 22:13

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

The sacrificial system in the Old Testament, before the time of Jesus, reminded people of the seriousness of sin before their holy God. The offering of a sacrifice symbolized the person’s desire to be forgiven for sin and thus to be restored to fellowship with God. In Old Testament times, a life had to be given up (usually a lamb’s) so that a life could be spared (the person’s). The blood of the sacrificed animal represented one life being poured out in substitution for another. This idea of a “substitute” foreshadowed Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. As the animal died so the sinner wouldn’t have to, Jesus died so we wouldn’t have to (Romans 5:6-11). The good news is that Jesus rose from the dead. His power over death guarantees his promise that we will also rise from the dead.

God’s Promise

He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:19