An eternal

Substitutionary

Sacrifice

The scripture reveals that before God created the physical world, He knew that man would rebel. This rebellion would result in a death that separated the realms of heaven and earth, as well as man from his place in God and His Kingdom. But God had a solution that would redeem mankind and restore the union. That solution would be an eternal substitutionary sacrifice called The Lamb of God. Jesus is the foreordained Lamb that would take away the sin of the world.

In the Gospel of John we are introduced to one called, John the Baptizer. You can read about his birth in the opening chapter of Luke. His father Zacharias declared at his naming, that he would be called the prophet of the Highest: for he would go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. When he was grown we find him in the wilderness calling people to repentance and preparing people to receive God’s solution for sin and death. The prophet Isaiah wrote about such a person in chapter forty of the book that bears his name.

A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up,and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

John used this passage to identify himself for the priests who wondered who he was and what he was doing. It was this same John that identified Jesus as “The Lamb of God.”

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 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.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
— John 1: 29-36

The Lamb of God

This is only an introduction and overview of God’s solution to the problem. I look forward to opening the Bible and unwrapping the beautiful redemptive plan of God with you, but that is a study yet to be posted. For now let’s consider the Biblical symbolism of “The Lamb” and its powerful message.

Why call Jesus the Lamb?

Genesis 22 is the first place the lamb is specifically highlighted. This is in the context of an important event in the life of Abraham and Isaac…

Why Did John Identify Jesus as the Lamb of God?

The Revelation Through…

This account begins by saying that this was an event designed to test or to prove Abraham’s loyalty to Yahweh. Abraham receives instruction from God to go to the land of Moriah and to offer his son upon one of the mountains which God would tell him.

It is interesting to note that The crucifixion of Jesus took place in this same “region of Moriah” where 2000 years before Abraham had stood prepared to offer unto God his unique son.

Abraham rose up early in the morning, took his donkey, two servants, his son and some wood for the burnt offering. They traveled three days to the place that God had told him. There he and Isaac took the wood and ascend the mountain. Abraham told the men to wait with the donkey; he and Isaac would go and worship and come back to them. As they walk, Isaac carries the wood on his back and Abraham carries the fire and a knife.

It is at this point that Isaac speaks up saying, “Dad, we have the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Genesis 22:8a And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”

This can be understood two ways:

One: God is going to provide a lamb for this offering.

Two: This is a prophetic statement revealing a greater sacrifice God Himself will make.

Within the terms of the blood covenant relationship Abraham had with God; a partner could ask for anything their covenant partner had if they had need of it. This is the legal ground upon which God could offer His unique Son. His Son would be the eternal atoning sacrifice. The Lamb which would redeem those who enter into covenant with Him.

The Bible reveals that during the three day journey, Abraham saw more than just the mountain where he was to offer his son. Abraham saw in a vision the day the Father would offer up His Son. Abraham certainly would have also seen that God would raise His Son from the dead.

We know this from the text. Abraham climbed the mountain fully prepared to offer his son. Abraham spoke with assurance that he and Isaac would both return to the men waiting with the donkey.

I encourage you to read the following scriptures Genesis 22; John 8; Hebrews 11.

In the New Testament when John the Baptist said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!” He had in mind this imagery of God’s own Lamb of sacrifice. A lamb offered because of His love and devotion to covenant partner.

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
— John 8:56
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
— Hebrews 11:17-19

Abraham: The Lamb of Covenant

This is the revelation that came through Moses. It is the account of deliverance, protection and salvation; in other words it is about redemption. I would encourage you to begin by reading Exodus 6:7-8 and notice all the “I will” statements of the LORD.

Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.’”

There are seven “I will” statements in these three verses. These are statements of covenant and redemption made by Yahweh. It is in chapter twelve that we read His instructions for receiving this great promised redemption. It would be good to read the whole chapter. I will highlight verses 3-5. I want you to notice the way Moses refers to this lamb.

Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old.

This lamb becomes known as the Passover Lamb. It isn’t just any lamb. It must become your lamb. It is the blood of your lamb that marks your home for protection and deliverance from the destroyer. It is the flesh of your lamb which is roasted by fire, which you are instructed to eat. This lamb is for your deliverance. This lamb is for your redemption. This lamb is your guarantee for receiving all the promises of God. You must identify with this lamb who is personified in Jesus, he was given as your substitute.

Moses: the Redeeming Lamb

Isaiah had the vision of The LORD’s sacrificial lamb, it is recorded in the fifty-third chapter of the book called by his name. Isaiah referred to this lamb as the arm of the LORD. Remember the phrase we read in Exodus 6:6 “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm” this is “the arm of the LORD” and is synonymous with the Redeemer and His work of redemption. Here Isaiah asks the question to whom has “the arm of the LORD” been revealed? Then from this point on he continually refers to “the arm” as a man.

I would encourage you to read all of Isaiah 53. Isaiah saw a man who became the lamb, who was offered by the LORD for all of us. The word “our” indicates the shared qualities of all of mankind. The use of the word “our” also indicates that which was carried by this man, and that which was done to this man, really belong to us. They were ours by nature, experience and judicial penalty. When it speaks of our griefs, it literally means our sickness and our diseases. When it says he carried our sorrows, it literally includes all physical and mental pains. He was wounded for our transgressions, which literally is our sin and rebellion. When he was crushed for our iniquities— it’s referring to our perversity, our depravity, our guilt and our punishment.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 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. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.”
— Isaiah 53:4-7

The imagery is that of a sacrificial lamb. A lamb excels in meekness and patience. It’s strength is not powerful, and it is not aggressive in nature. A lamb does not have claws, sharp teeth, spikes, venom or even a repulsive spray with which to repel an attacking foe. A lamb exhibits a trusting and submissive posture. This is what Isaiah is seeing. A man who has submitted himself to stand in our place, to be made sick with our sickness, to be pained with our pains, to be wounded for our sins and rebellions, to be made sin by taking our sin, he became our substitute. In doing so, he drew all judgement and punishment decreed against us to himself.

In the passage below, we will not see the lamb. But it is connected to Isaiah’s vision of substitution and identification. Jesus used the imagery of the serpent on the pole from Numbers chapter 21 and connected it to himself. The serpent referred to that which was the source of death to the people in the wilderness. Moses was instructed to make an image of the snake and put it up on a pole. Then the people were told to look at it. When they look upon it they were healed, they were saved. It became the solution to that which was killing them. This was healing through identification and substitution; it foreshadowed the substitutionary work of Jesus himself.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
— John 3:14-17

Here is another passage to consider, John 12:31-33, notice the word peoples is italicized that is because it was added by the translators, it isn’t in the text. Translators sometimes add words to help clarify a sentence. It can be helpful, or it can be distracting from what the writers want us to understand. In this case Jesus is talking about judgement. Jesus is saying he will draw all judgement to himself. He could do this only if he were to also take all sin unto himself. This is what John the Baptist declared prophetically.

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

Isaiah goes on describing a man who became our substitute and the eternal transaction that was taking place. The veil between heaven and earth was being torn open. The temple was a pictorial model of Eden, and the veil represented the separation that came between the two realms—the habitation of God and the habitation of mankind.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.
— Matthew 27:51
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
— Hebrews 10:19-21a

I encourage you to do your own study of Isaiah 53 for this is the Old Testament imagery behind John the Baptist’s declaration to “Behold the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Isaiah: The Sacrificial Lamb

It is the imagery of this Slain Lamb that is prominent in Heaven’s Throne Room. We know this because it is recorded in the last book of the Bible. The Apostle John was given a vision and was instructed to write down what he saw. Some call this vision the book The Revelation of Saint John the Divine. However, according to the first line of this book it would be more accurate to refer to this vision as The Revelation of Jesus Christ. He is the One our Heavenly Father wants us to focus on. In chapter five of this vision John watches a scene that unfolds before the throne of God. He writes down what he sees, and the feelings it evokes in him. He also records what those that are around the throne of heaven are saying.

I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
— Revelation 5:2-6

There is so much to be said about these verses. But lets just look at the question being asked in the throne room of heaven. “Who is worthy?” The answer eventually comes that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has conquered, he can open the scroll and it’s seals. So John turns expecting to see the Lion but instead he saw a Lamb standing. This Lamb is described as having seven eyes, which are seven spirits of God. This is a pictorial way of ascribing the Omniscience and Holy perfection of The Lamb.

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
— Revelation 5:9

Those around the throne of God, are singing to The Lamb. Look at the words “You are worthy” This means Jesus is the only One who deserves and the only One capable of taking and opening the scroll. The reason Jesus deserves this honor is because he laid aside his rightful glory and power to take our place. He became a man, he suffered and paid the price for our sin and rebellion, by pouring out his life blood and dying in our place. He did this that we might receive salvation and return to the family of God.

Tells us there were ten thousand times then thousand, and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
— Revelation 5:11-12

This is an unprecedented measure of glory and honor declare by this seven-fold blessing. The Worth of The Lamb is given by the Father and testified to by the heavenly host. This Lamb is God. He is The Word who took on flesh and dwelt among us.

John: The Worth of the Lamb

The Lamb’s Book of Life

We find it written in the Book of Revelation that this “Lamb” has a book which is called “The Lamb’s Book of Life.” Those who believe that Jesus is God’s solution to sin and death, and receive him as their LORD, are granted the gift of eternal life. Their name is then written in “The Lamb’s Book.”

In the Book of Revelation chapter thirteen verse 8, we read about a Book of Life. It says this Book belongs to The Lamb. Then it makes this statement, this Lamb to whom this Book of Life belongs was (considered) slaughtered before the creation of the world.

And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made. New Living Version
NKJV: “…the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
NOG: "…the Book of Life. That book belongs to the lamb who was slaughtered before the creation of the world."
NIV: "…the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world."

This let’s us know, before God created the world He knew sin and death would enter in and claim us. He knew we would need a redeemer. We needed a solution for our sin and rebellion or we would be eternally separated from our Creator, our God and our Father. The Father’s provision from eternity past was Jesus. He is our sacrificed lamb.

I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
— Revelation 5:2-6