Title: Jesus, the Lamb of God
Contents
The text is from John 1:29-31
John the Baptist testifies that Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus was the scapegoat in the eyes of John, who was walking on the path of a martyr and a great prophet. Generally, when sheep are raised and caught, the meat is used for food and the hide is used for various purposes. But here it has a religious connotation. The phrase “take away the sin of the world” means the sacrifice that takes the place of sin as seen in the word. Why did John see Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins? It's not a fantasy. There is the background of God's Word.
There are several great events that appear in the Old Testament as the background.
First, it is the event that appears in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve disobeyed God's word and sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. When he found out that he was naked, he hid in the forest, and God made a leather garment and clothed him. Animals had to die to be clothed with skins. That very beast was a type, a shadow, and a type of Jesus Christ, who would die for mankind. Along with this, Abel, the son of Adam, sacrificed the firstborn of a sheep to God and, based on what was accepted, he repeatedly slaughtered sheep and offered sacrifices to God for the forgiveness of sins. It is reproduced in the Passover event of the nation of Israel.
Third, it can be found in the construction of the tabernacle and offering sacrifices in the wilderness. Aaron, who was commissioned as a priest in Leviticus 9, “bring a calf without blemish and a lamb without blemish” (verse 3) as an offering to God. God hates things like lameness, sickness, loss of horns, and things that are withered. If you love me, who is God, make the best sacrifices. The Israelites continued to offer sacrifices as lambs to God.
We hope that we are thankful that we are in the ranks of the children of God who have been forgiven of our sins and saved through Jesus Christ, who came as the Lamb and became the sacrifice. Jesus alone is my salvation, my Lord, my hope. Hallelujah!