Perhaps the most central thread of the God Story is the one concerning God’s Lamb. In Genesis 1-11 we find out about our human roots. In Genesis 12 God creates a new nation through Abraham. Through this new nation He would testify of His great Name and bring deliverance to all nations. When He called His people out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, the first identity requirement He gave was the sacrifice of a spotless lamb for each household. The blood was smeared upon the doorposts of their homes in Egypt and the Angel of Lord “passed over” the households of His people. We read about this in Exodus 12.
“Now you shall eat it in this manner: ready to travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste — it is the Lord’s Passover. For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments — I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” And this is exactly what happened.
The sacrifices of the sons of Israel (Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers and then through the time of Jesus) all extended or mirrored the passover lamb. This is why John the Baptist called out in John 1: “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.” His disciples began to follow Jesus, because John had prepared the way.
It is interesting that Jesus (God’s Lamb) was not more distinguishably apparent to the Jewish leaders. He is explained in their entire Law and prophets. (see Isaiah 53, for example). “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, and He was crushed for our iniquities; and the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Wow.
The disciples were processing some pretty amazing things. What did His words mean? Were they not going to reign with Him – soon!? What were these troublesome indicators He kept bring up in conversation? How did He know the things He knew? What kind of plan was He following?
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him; and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples? And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” The disciples went out and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.” (Mark 14:12-16) The full account of this dinner is given in John 13-17, one of the most intimate God-moments of the entire God Story.
There is much in this thread but let’s complete this conversation with: “And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, AND the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!” Revelation 15:3 One song – really?! One message? “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
There are not two testaments: only one. It is the testimony of the Living God, whether we are speaking of Israel (God’s chosen people) or the gathering of the nations, or the Church. King first – then Kingdom – then Church! When did Jesus die for the sins of the world? When you get a chance check out “foundation of the world.” Amazing!
So:
√ The Lamb’s blood was the plan all along.
√ Everything in the God Story revolves around blood and redemption (Genesis 9:5).
√ Jesus is God’s Lamb. He died for the sins of the world.
√ The promises of Moses and the prophets are each fulfilled in Jesus the Nazarene.
Where do you stand?
“There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:9-13
He who has ears to hear – let him hear!
Dave and Burnadette
Here are 16 conversations about the Lamb of God.
The God Story in 8 Minutes