Why a Lamb?

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29b

In the opening chapter of John’s gospel, he introduces us to Jesus, the eternally existent Word (Jn 1:1) who made all things (Jn 1:3). Life itself resides in Jesus (1:4) and it is he who gives light to all men (1:9). He was the Word made flesh who dwelt among us and was full of grace and truth (1:14). He was before John the Baptist and greater than John the Baptist (1:24-28). It was this Jesus, the eternally existent Word made flesh, of whom John declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).  

A lamb? John called the eternally existent God who created all things and gives all things life a “lamb”? Why a lamb? Surely a more regal, a more noble, a more powerful animal would better depict Jesus?

To understand why John called Jesus a lamb, we need to turn our attention to the Old Testament. In Genesis 22:1-14, we read of the day in which God commanded Abraham to offer his only son—the son of promise—as a sacrifice. Abraham, believing God to be faithful to keep his word to bless the nations through his offspring, went to do as commanded by the Lord. The obvious question from Isaac was, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham’s response: “God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And, the Lord did indeed provide a lamb to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place, saving the life of Isaac. 

Later, in Exodus 12:1-27 we find Moses in a historic showdown with Pharaoh and what was at stake was the people of God being held in bondage. Moses, as God’s chosen representative, demanded the release of the people but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. The final act of the Lord to free his people would be the death of every firstborn in Egypt. However, the Lord revealed to his people that the blood of a lamb covering the doorposts of their homes would spare the life of their firstborn. God was faithful to keep his word. The blood of a lamb saved the lives of the firstborn children.

In Leviticus, we read of the sacrificial system in which lambs were sacrificed for the payment of sin. This system would continue for years and years as what the writer of Hebrews describes as “a reminder of sins every year” (Heb 10:3). The blood of lambs paid for the sins of the people but the payment was not enduring. It did not cover the people’s sins forever. It was not final. We need more than a reminder of sin; we need full payment for sin.

Finally, we come to the words of the prophet Isaiah who tells of the servant of the Lord who would be sent to bear our griefs, carry our sorrows, be pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities (Isa 53). What did Isaiah compare him to? A lamb. A lamb led to slaughter. And this lamb would do what all other lambs were unable to do—“make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities” (Isa 53:11). 

What a beautiful promise this is from the Lord. Oh, what love and mercy we see in our God, that he would send One to suffer and die bearing our sins that we might be made righteous. He would shed his own blood for our sins. He would die in our place to save us. He would be the perfect Lamb of God.

But here’s the thing—no one likes a promise-maker who is not a promise-keeper. Instead, we value those who are faithful to keep their word. We want to know that if a promise is made, it will be kept. Would God keep his promise? Absolutely! This is why 2 Corinthians 1:20 is such a beautiful passage—“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” God, the great Promise-Maker, was faithful to keep every promise in Christ. And, most beautifully, he kept his promise to send One to save us from our sins. He sent Jesus, the Lamb of God without blemish or spot (1 Pet 1:19), to redeem us with his own blood. To this, we shout “Amen!” Yes, it is through Jesus’ death that we have life. It is through Jesus’ blood that we are saved. Jesus paid the debt we could not pay once for all. It is therefore, “through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”