Jesus, the Lamb of God

The title "Lamb of God" (introduced in John 1: 29) carries immense theological weight because it synthesises multiple foundational themes from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), acting as the culmination of God's redemptive plan. It signifies Jesus as the ultimate, voluntary, and perfect substitute whose death atones for sin and brings liberation. The theological weightage rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures are manifold.

The Lamb Provided by God: When Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son; he stated to the curious Isaac, "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:8). God substituted a ram caught in a thicket for Isaac, establishing the concept of substitutionary atonement. Jesus is seen as the "Lamb of God," the divine provision that replaces the need for human sacrifice, acting as a substitute for humanity.

The Passover Lamb: The Israelites were saved from the plague on the firstborn by applying the blood of an unblemished, male, one-year-old lamb to their doorposts (Exodus 12). Just as the Passover lamb’s blood spared the Israelites from death and led to liberation from Egyptian slavery, Jesus’ blood is viewed as liberating humanity from the bondage of sin and eternal death.

The Daily Sacrifices of Lambs: Under the Mosaic Law, the "continual holocaust" required the sacrifice of two lambs every day—one in the morning and one in the evening. These lambs had to be "without blemish," representing moral perfection. Their repetition hinted at their ultimate insufficiency to permanently remove sin.

Going beyond this ritualistic, moralistic tradition and moving to the prophetic tradition, ‘Lamb of God’ assumes a new tone and nuance. There is a gradual shift from violent, bloody redeemer to a nonviolent and peace-loving saviour. The Aramaic meaning and sense of the word ‘lamb’ is a young animal or young boy, signifying innocence, gentleness and non-violence. Prophet Isaiah’s suffering servant indicates to a gentle ‘lamb led to the slaughter" and a "sheep that before its shearers is silent" (Isaiah 53: 7).

John the Baptist in John 1: 29-34 says, “Behold, there is the Lamb of God…” John said it because he had witnessed the heavens open, the spirit come down on Him, and the words of the Father was heard, “This is my son, my beloved, in whom I am well-please.” Here are after we have an image in flesh and blood as the Lamb of God. He is meek and nonviolent. “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smouldering wick He will not extinguish; and He leads justice to victory” (Matthew 12:20). And Jesus many times established that what he wants is mercy and not sacrifice. The old era of sacrifice is over; we have a lamb that is merciful. It is interesting to note that Jesus did not build a band of priests, but builds a band of apostles to spread the story of a Lamb of God who is merciful. We don't need middlemen or substitutes but just, plainly and simply, apostles who live and preach the mercy of God.

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