Lamb of God/
Atoning Sacrifice

Editor's note: Jesus came to save sinners unable to save themselves. The human race is under the curse of death for the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Because God is holy and perfectly just, He cannot abide sin and unrighteousness. Thus, mankind is alienated from God. Yet in his love and mercy, beginning immediately after Man's fall (in Genesis), God announced his plan to redeem his people through a savior to come, by which our alienation could be rectified. Scripture teaches that "without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins." (Heb. 9:22).  In the Old Testament, God established a sacrificial system involving the shedding of lambs' and other animals' blood. This system not only reinforced the seriousness of sin and God's justice, but it also foreshadowed the real and perfect sacrifice to come via the Son of God, who would shed his own blood for all of God's people. The allusions to Christ as a sacrificial lamb are poignantly expressed in passages like those presented below.

Lamb of God

Isaiah 53

4  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken,smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

 6 All we like sheep have gone astray;  we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

John 1

29 The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[i] of God.”

Rev. 5

8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scrollnd to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

    from every tribe and language and people and nation,

10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

    and they shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and them elders fell down and worshiped.

Atoning Sacrifice

The Lord's Supper

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”