Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 28, 2024
Would you like to understand why Jesus is called the Lamb of God? And what did this bring him?
Given our extensive knowledge on the subject of the Holy Bible, we have decided to answer your questions and shed light on your gray areas.
The Lord Jesus Christ is called the Lamb of God in John 1:29 and John 1:36. For His death is the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. To understand who Christ was and what He accomplished, we must begin with the Old Testament, which contains prophecies of the coming “guilt offering” of Jesus Christ.
As you read on, you will discover:
- What does Lamb of God mean;
- Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God;
- And what this divine Lamb changes in Man's approach to God.
Let's start the article without further delay!
What does Lamb of God mean?
To connect the dots of this question, you need to look back into the history and context of the Old Testament. Animal sacrifices are found throughout the books of the Old Testament . These blood offerings served as a temporary covering for sin. In Leviticus 4:35, you get a clear picture of the process and purpose. Through this process of offerings, the people are cleansed from their sin, made right with the Lord.
So the purpose of animal sacrifices and offerings was sanctification , righteousness (or standing before God), and forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22 also highlights the importance of the blood offering, saying, “For according to the law of Moses almost all things were cleansed with blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” In short, this was life under the law.
The people knew that if sin was present, a sacrifice was necessary for redemption . These various sacrificial practices in Jewish culture often involved lambs. This animal had a very important place in the religion. Lambs are known for their white coat, and white is a symbol of purity and cleanliness.
Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God?
Lamb of God, is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that appeared in the Gospel of John. It appears in John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world." Lamb of God refers in Christian teachings to Jesus Christ, in his role as the perfect sacrificial offering.
Christological arguments dissociate the term from the Old Testament concept of "scapegoat." The Lord Jesus is thus called the Lamb of God, because he bore the sin of this world. Through him man can go to God. Christian doctrine maintains that Jesus chose to suffer on Calvary as a sign of his full obedience to the will of his Father.
He suffered as an agent and servant of God. The Lamb of God is thus linked to the Paschal Lamb of the Passover, which is considered fundamental and integral to the message of Christianity. A Lamb of God different from an animal that, after being killed, rises to be victorious. It appears several times in the book of Revelation and is indirectly mentioned in the Pauline writings.
What does Jesus the Lamb of God mean?
Most of us imagine lambs as white animals . Fluffy, frolicking in green meadows, carried tenderly in the arms of their shepherd. Lambs represent gentleness, purity, and innocence. This is one of the most tender images of Christ in the New Testament . The phrase “Lamb of God” would have conjured up far more disturbing images for those who heard John the Baptist greet Jesus with these words.
They brought a lamb that they had fed and washed, the best animal in their little flock. The bloody sacrifice of an innocent animal had not provided a vivid picture of the consequences of transgressing the Mosaic law. Surely John must have shocked his hearers by applying the expression "Lamb of God" to a living man. When we pray to Jesus as the Lamb of God, we are praying to the one who willingly gave his life.
The One who gave His life to take in His own body the penalty for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was our once-for-all sacrifice that met God’s need for a blood offering. He had made the perfect sacrifice of love that brought the possibility of perpetual change to the world. The reference to Christ being “the Lamb of God” because Jesus was a perfect offering of purity and cleanliness. He did nothing apart from the Father and was sinless even though he was a man.
WHERE IS THE TERM “LAMB OF GOD” FOUND IN THE BIBLE?
John 1:29 is one of the most popular verses where this reference to Jesus is found. It was documentation of John the Baptist seeing Jesus and exclaiming, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” It is also used again in John 1:36 when John exclaims again, causing two of John’s disciples to follow Jesus.
These verses are a direct indication of the character and purpose of the Son of God . Revelation also refers to the “Lamb of God” several times in the context of the end times. Revelation 12:11 states, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:27 also refers to “the book of life of the Lamb of God.”
Romans 8:3 sums up the answer to this question perfectly. It states, “The law of Moses could not save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we have as sinners. And in that body, God declared the end of sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins .”
What is the impact of Jesus' death on Man's approach to God?
Hebrews 10:19-22 explains the weight of Jesus' act by saying, "So then, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter the Most Holy Place of heaven because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus has opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. Since we have a great High Priest who reigns over the house of God, let us enter directly into the presence of God with a sincere heart trusting in Him fully.
For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with the blood of Christ for cleansing, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” James 4:8 also begins by saying, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” It is only through the Lamb of God that we can draw near to God. The result of drawing near is the beginning of our faith and a way out of the cycle of sin .
When Jesus is called the Lamb of God in John 1:29 and John 1:36, this refers to Him as the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for sin. In fact, the entire sacrificial system established by God in the Old Testament prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ , who is the perfect sacrifice that God would provide as atonement for the sins of His people (Romans 8:3; Hebrews 10).
What does Jesus' sacrificial act bring us today?
Before Christ, the major sacrifice was that of lambs at the temple in Jerusalem. Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29:38-42). These daily sacrifices, like all others, were simply to point people toward Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross. In fact, the time of Jesus' death on the cross corresponded with the time of the evening sacrifice in the temple. The Jews of that day were also familiar with the Old Testament prophets.
Jeremiah and Isaiah, who foretold the coming of one who would be brought “as a Lamb of God” and whose suffering and sacrifice would provide redemption for Israel. Of course, that person was none other than Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God.” While the idea of a sacrificial system may seem strange to you today, the concept of payment or restitution is one we can easily understand. We know that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and that our sin separates us from God.
The Bible clearly teaches that everyone is a sinner and that no person is righteous before God (Romans 3:23). Because of our sins, we are separated from God and guilty before Him. Therefore, the only hope we can have is that He will provide a way for us to be reconciled to Himself. He did this by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross. Christ died to make atonement for sin and to pay the price for the sins of all who believe in Him.
THE IMPORTANCE OF JESUS' SACRIFICE
By His death on the cross as God's perfect sacrifice for sin and His resurrection three days later, Jesus Christ has given eternal life to all who believe in Him. That God Himself has provided the offering that atones for our sins is part of the glorious good news of the gospel .
This good news is clearly stated in 1 Peter 1:18-21: “For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold from the futile life handed to you by your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.”
He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
THE LAMB OF GOD AS A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL
Often in Easter decorations we see: chickens, ducks, rabbits, etc. But there is also the symbol of the Lamb of God which has a special place and meaning. The liturgical symbol of Easter is the Lamb of God. The Lamb of God is a symbol of simplicity, innocence, chastity and obedience. Lamb of God with a red banner, symbol of the passion , death and resurrection of Christ and the Eucharist .
The Bible often refers to the symbolism of the Lamb of God. It held a special place in the circle of Jewish culture. Jews offered Yahweh's lambs as a daily sacrifice especially on the Sabbath and holidays. For Christians, the Lamb of God is a symbol of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Easter Day, they recite the words of Gloria with greater understanding.
They pray to the Lamb of God before Holy Communion . Although it has a historical moment in painting, the symbol of the Lamb of God occupies a large place in craftsmanship. Thus, the Lamb of God, wounded and slain, but at the same time victorious, is a true biblical symbol. The Lamb of God as a symbol of Jesus Christ has survived in art for centuries.
A PRAYER TO OUR LAMB OF GOD
Jesus, our precious Lamb of God:Thank you, Lord, for taking my place, for dying the death my sins deserve. Thank you, because because of you, I can go directly to God. In the Bible you tore the curtain in two and made a way for us. Because of your death, I can go before God with complete confidence, trusting Him completely. Your blood hascleansed me. Thank you Lord Jesus!
Because you are our Lamb of God, you have made a way for us to be transformed from sin. We know that the law could only reveal our sins , not save us from them. You, who have conquered sin and it no longer reigns in our lives. Thank you Jesus! Because of your sacrifice, I can be safe. I can love others freely. I pray that I may live a life worthy of the calling you have entrusted to us.
Thank you, Jesus, that there is nothing I can do to keep you from loving me. You have made me something new. Help me, Lord , to live in the light of that love. Help me to die to myself and live for you. Thank you for your incredible, generous, and transforming love for me. Help me to live in the light of that love. In your name I pray, Amen.
Pray for the Lamb of God who protects the world from sin
The purpose of animal sacrifices and offerings was sanctification, righteousness, and forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22 also highlights the importance of the bloodoffering. In truth, this was life under the law: the people knew that if sin was present, a sacrifice was necessary for redemption. These various sacrificial practices in Jewish culture often involved lambs.
The sacrifice of lambs played a very important role in Jewish religious life and the sacrificial system. When John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), the Jews who heard him may have immediately thought of one of the many important sacrifices. Those for whom He died are covered by His blood. This blood cleanses those who worship Him, and all their sins are forgiven.
Now you know what the meaning of the Lamb of God is. With the information we have given you in this article, you will be able to help all the people who still have questions about this subject.
If you are interested in this kind of article, do not hesitate to take a look at our library, you will find plenty of interesting articles there. To this end, here is an article on the meaning of Christian symbols .
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