Skip to main content

The Lamb of God

Illustration of The Lamb of God

In the unfolding story of redemption, God first signals his provision of a substitute when he supplies a ram in place of Isaac, establishing the pattern of an innocent life given for another. This image deepens through the Passover, where the blood of a spotless lamb shields the people from judgment, and finds prophetic voice in the suffering servant led silently to slaughter. Ultimately it converges in Christ, proclaimed as the Lamb of God who removes the sin of the world and revealed as the slain Lamb worthy to redeem humanity.

0:00

Key Passages

God Will Provide a Lamb

Genesis 22:7-14

Abraham's prophetic words to Isaac on Mount Moriah echo through centuries - God Himself will provide the sacrifice, pointing forward to Calvary.

Abraham tells Isaac that God will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, foreshadowing God's provision of Christ.

A7nd Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

The Passover Lamb

Exodus 12:3-13

The lamb's blood on doorposts saves Israel from death - establishing the principle of substitutionary sacrifice that finds its fulfillment in Christ.

The blood of the unblemished lamb protects Israel from the angel of death, prefiguring Christ's atoning sacrifice.

S3peak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORDโ€™s passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Led Like a Lamb to Slaughter

Isaiah 53:7-8

Isaiah portrays the Suffering Servant as a silent lamb before slaughterers - prophesying Christ's willing, uncomplaining submission to death.

Isaiah prophesies the suffering servant who is silent before his shearers, like a lamb led to slaughter.

H7e was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Behold the Lamb of God

John 1:29

John the Baptist identifies Jesus with the title that connects Him to every sacrifice in Israel's history - the one who takes away the world's sin.

John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

T29he next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

The Lamb Who Was Slain

Revelation 5:6-14

Revelation reveals the slain Lamb standing at heaven's center - the crucified Christ is now the object of all creation's worship.

In heaven, the Lamb who was slain is found worthy to open the scroll, receiving worship from all creation.

A6nd I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Did You Know?

1

The lamb appears on the first page of the Bible's sacrificial system and the last page of Scripture. From Abel's offering to the throne room of Revelation, the lamb is central.

2

Every Passover lamb, every sin offering, every temple sacrifice was a rehearsal for the day when God would provide the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

3

When John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said "Behold the Lamb of God," he was summarizing centuries of prophecy in a single sentence. The long wait was over.